Montrose to Brechin: 12 miles
Riders will be collected from their accommodation in Montrose or St Cyrus and taken to meet the horses at the start of the ride. We ride through the sand dunes, to ride on the beautiful beach at Montrose Bay. Leaving the sea behind, we’ll head
inland on small roads and farm tracks where we spend our first night and have a good blether over dinner to get to know each other.
Edzell to Glen Esk: 18 miles
We ride on, again on small road, farm tracks and hill tracks, leaving the fertile farmland of Angus behind us and heading into the hills. Lovely views over the rolling hills and grouse moors the area is famous for. We ride into Glen Esk, where we spend the night. Look out for the red squirrels in the garden!
Glen Esk to Glen Muick: 17 miles
The scenery gets much wilder today as we ride into the glens, past the Queens Well where Queen Victoria and Prince Albert were refreshed by the spring water. We then ride on through the hills high on to the shoulder of Mount Keen, the most easterly of the Munros (mountains over 3000ft or 914 metres) a cone shaped hill, rising above vast swathes of empty, bleak moorland with extensive views on a good day. We drop down into Glen Tanar, then climb again for more stunning views, before descending into Glen Muick, where we finish for the night.
Glen Muick to Glen Doll: 21 miles
We head back into the forest, this time following the river as it tumbles it’s way to Ballater. We have lunch at the head of Loch Muick, before climbing again high above the loch for stunning views all around. The views are absolutely amazing from the top of the trail – one of my favourite views in Scotland! We dismount to descent on a steep stalkers path, then drive out to spend the night at Glen Doll. A good day to look out for Eagles and Red Deer today.
Glen Doll to Ballater: 15 miles
Taking the ancient, Capel Mounth trail, we climb high onto the hills following a high level trail just below the ridge of the hangmans hill. We ride beneath Lochnagar with it’s towering crags, then
descend to the forest of Balmoral Estate, the Queens summer residence. We spend the night at Ballater.
Today is a well earned day off! Guests can explore the local craft shops, stroll by the river or go to visit Balmoral Castle (the queen's residence in Scotland.)
Ballater to Braemar: 24 miles
We ride today on good trails through the forests beside the river on Royal Deeside, riding through Balmoral Estate to the pretty village of Braemar, then on to beautiful Mar Lodge, where we leave the ponies for the night. We head into Braemar for the night.
Braemar to Glenmore: 21 miles
We start our day riding through pretty Glen Lui with it’s native pine forests, watching for Black Grouse, before climbing high into the hills. The path gets rockier as we ride through the pass before we climb again, high onto Bynack with it’s alpine tundra flora and fauna – look out for Ptarmigan in amongst the hoards of Red Grouse! The views up here are stunning and far reaching and we eventually descend to the Ryvoan pass with it’s mysterious, deep green fairy loch before finishing our ride at Glenmore. We transport everyone to Aviemore where we spend a final night together.
Glenmore to Aviemore: 12 miles
We ride through the beautiful Caledonian pine forests of Glenmore, beside tumbling streams and pretty lochs (including Loch an Eilean with its’s castle on an island) and finish about mid-afterno
