Information about campsites in horse riding in Norwich and Norfolk will be posted here.
Horses Come In All Shapes And Sizes
For those who love the great outdoors, horse riding is high on the agenda of things to do. Where better to do this then than the beautiful Broads. Norfolk has so much to offer the avid horse enthusiast with literally huge tracts of heathland, forests, country lanes and bridle routes scattered all across the county. It even has a coast line too so horse riding can be done on the deserted sands too.
Bridle Routes
There are many of these, some centered around Swaffahm and the Fens and outlying districts. In fact, why not try out the Norfolk Bridle and Cycle Routes which can be easily accessed by going online to download the maps. One such route accesses the ancient Peddars Way and runs for about sixty three miles. Of course, this does not all have to be done in one trip!
Marriott’s Way is a disused railway line reclaimed and runs from Norwich to Aylsham. It is twenty one miles long and is favored by cyclists and avid walkers alike. Along the route one can expect to go through Harling Drove, a forest which once saw flocks of livestock being taking to the market in East Harling. Expect to see some startling views over ancient heaths which hark back to prehistoric times.
Thetford Forest allows free access to riders who want to explore the area. This contains about sixty miles of riding and carriage trails amongst the biggest lowland pine forest in the country.
The Schools
For those who have never tried out the sport of horse riding, why not start here? There are many schools in the area offering courses or organized hacks for the novice to try his hand at. Around this area it is common to see bed and breakfast facilities which offer shelter for horse and rider alike!
Other Pursuits
For those who love animals but do not like the idea of getting up on one, there are several centres which save maltreated horses. In Snetterton there are two just such centres and they allow visitors to meet face to face with horses, donkeys, mules and ponies that have all been rescued. Adopting one is on the cards too so why not take a cup of tea here and think about it.
Also around this area is the Hillside Shire Horse Sanctuary. These magnificent creatures are stabled here and it gives the public the chance to see them up close. It is just amazing how large and strong these creatures are and they were used to pull heavy carts and machinery, particularly those in the brewing trade.
Not only are there machinery and carts on show here, there are also displays where the horses are put through their paces for the public to see just what they used to do. Nowadays though, these creatures are usually only seen in public at the Lord Mayor’s Show and other such events around the country.
So whether it is riding horses, visiting them or watching what they can do, there is something for everyone in Norfolk.
