Planned Horse Drawn Journey, Hampshire to The Hebrides

[Pendragon]

Hi I am Penny, new here and searching for help / info / friends. In March I am driving my pony from Andover in Hampshire to the island of Islay in the Hebrides where I now live. It seemed more fun than putting him in a lorry. I am looking for info on green lanes and byways. My route is more or less a direct line from Andover to Newent in Glos, then up through Shropshire. I will probably then take a line toward Preston, Settle, Kendal and Carlisle, then Glasgow and unfortunately then main road all the was to Islay.
Any ideas, or offers of an overnight camping spot with a place to tether the pony will be very welcome, as will knowledge of any parts of the route. I would quite like help and company if there are any like minds out there. I am a 64 year old female. I am very much looking forward to the trip.

[jus_young]

Welcome to the forum Penny. There are a few members that are based along your route that I am sure can come up with some suggestions.

[saxonaxe]

Hello and welcome, Penny :)

[Pendragon]

Thank you Saxonaxe, I am already finding map sites mentioned here, such a lot of planning!

[Pendragon]

That would be good! I keep changing the route but straight as the crow flies is about 440 miles, so probably double it! It should take me 3 or 4 weeks I reckon.

[happybonzo]

On long trips, one of the most difficult things is finding water.
I use graveyards when "wildcamping" as they always seem to have a tap
Good luck

[Ehecatl]

Hello and welcome,

M@

[Pendragon]

I wildcamped in my motorhome all over Europe for several years and I agree that water is a problem. I had more of a problem out camping with a horse as these days they extract so much water from our waterways that many streams have just dried up. Water will be my biggest problem. I bet March will just bucket down and keeping dry will become the priority! I made sure the tent goes up outer before the inner!

[Pendragon]

Thanks :camping:

[-Tim-]

Welcome Penny, And hats off to you, what an adventure.
Why not try some riding schools en-route? If they can't help, they may know someone who can.
Also as a thought, would it be worth joining the Camping and Caravaning Club, a lot of farms have small campsites called Certificated Site's (CS). A small campsite that accepts just five caravans or motorhomes. Some of these CS’s accept tents, space permitting. CSs are often quieter, smaller places to camp, with many offering minimal facilities – ideal for when you want to get away from it all.Its just a thought and some of them they might be sympathetic to your needs.

They do have a campsite finder here (http://www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk/siteseekersearch/aspx/search.aspx) that might give you an idea of what they offer.

Keep us posted.

Cheers
Tim

[Pendragon]

Thanks Tim, I am already a member and had thought I might check them out. I agree that they are a very likely host providing I can turn up looking reasonably clean!!
Last time I went camping with a horse, a riding school charged me £25 for a stable for one night and £10 for my tent!!!
The actual route is giving me the biggest headache. I can see myself doing 1000 miles to go the 440 as the crow flies miles. The pony will drive through a town without a problem but I want to stay as remote as possible. Last year I tried getting a horse on the Offas Dyke path, which being an ancient way, you would assume was possible, but it is a footpath only. It can get a bit sticky with a horse and cart if you reach a dead end cart track after several miles on it. I sometimes think it is better not to plan things. I am a doer rather than a planner!

Penny

[JonnyP]

Penny.. Check these sites.. http://www.trailwise.org.uk/ http://www.way-finder.org.uk/
Good luck with the trip, it sounds fab :0)

[biker-bri]

A warm welcome from North Wales
ATB Bri

[alvino78]

:welcome:

[midas]

Hi Penny,May I wish you all the best on your epic journey!!and that you safely manage to negociate all those miles,Have you made any plans in case your horse throws a shoe??????Though many farrowers are mobile now,I don't know if there is a directory???best wishes.mike.

[Pendragon]

I will do thanks. I have been using the hug maps to try and sort my route, but I am very undecided which way to go. I like scenic obviously, but I also have to think of the pony and time. I like the idea of cutting diagonally across country to Tewkesbury then up through Shropshire.

[Pendragon]

Hi Midas, Certainly I am going to need shoes replaced en route. I am probably going to delay until April or even may for better weather now. The pony going lame is a major concern, sometimes you can just go on for a while to get to safety, other times you just can't go anywhere, but I will try and get a list of riding schools etc along the way and ask if I run into a problem in their area if they can rescue me. I am actually getting more and more excited about the whole thing

[midas]

Hi Midas, Certainly I am going to need shoes replaced en route. I am probably going to delay until April or even may for better weather now. The pony going lame is a major concern, sometimes you can just go on for a while to get to safety, other times you just can't go anywhere, but I will try and get a list of riding schools etc along the way and ask if I run into a problem in their area if they can rescue me. I am actually getting more and more excited about the whole thing
Hi again Penny,Might be an idea if you have a good Farrier before you set off,to get him to make/adjust a couple of sets of spares.That would help speed things up,if the one you have to call on,on route doesn't carry that size????etc!
April seems a better time no snow n ice,Hopefully just "april showers."How about writing a book on your epic journey.you never know !could become a best seller!"!Best Wishes.Mike.

[Pendragon]

This is my pony being trained. He was a gypsy trotter. This is the guy advising me
Penny
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdC9a-Gpm0E

[Pendragon]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ci-UsxNZth0
And this one

[midas]

This is my pony being trained. He was a gypsy trotter. This is the guy advising me
Penny
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdC9a-Gpm0E
Nice looking pony,with plenty of go!
Often see Trotting ponies around my location.Sunday mornings,on occasions,the bypass gets blocked off with pickup trucks men with wads of money,in the back."A contest"takes place,n they are gone as fast as they arrived.

[f0rm4t]

I'm no horse fan, but that and the other Barry Hook videos I saw were very enjoyable. I do love to see someone thriving in the privilege of making a career of the thing they love to do.

...sniff ...sniff ...gulp ....<long pause> ...I'm hate my job! :sad:

[Pendragon]

When my ex died at 55, just 6 months after getting his army pension, I decided that life really was too short to spend doing stuff you don't enjoy. Since then I have spent all my money and am nowhere near as secure as I was, but I am doing stuff I enjoy. I have to work, but I don't mind work per se. Sometimes it is necessary to stand back and take a long look at your life. Don't live to regret being "Normal", if you don't like your life, change it!!!! Good luck!
The Barry Hook videos are fantastic. He is very down to earth and has been a great help. His knowledge of horses is vast and he has a waiting list of about 150 people waiting to send their horses to him.

[Pendragon]

Just looked at your album of 2 days in the Kent countryside. Reminded me of backpacking down from Scotland to Hants with my dog. I had the dog in my poncho overnight and she slipped her head inside it. Woke up next morning absolutely soaked in condensed dog breath!

[NorthernYeti]

thats one hell of a trip! but fun non the less! best of luck with that!:happy-clapping:

[Pendragon]

Job to know what to do first. I think nearer the time that I am going to contact anyone and everyone roughly on my route and see if they can either help with grazing / stable / water, to give the pony a break or fancy joining me for a few days. I see a lot of the members are on my route more or less

[OakAshandThorn]

:welcome: Dia dhuit, agus fáilte go dtí an bpobal bushcraft.

[midas]

:welcome: Dia dhuit, agus fáilte go dtí an bpobal bushcraft.

Has your computor stuck on DITTO???????Must have been notified of at least 12 messages of gobbligook!!!lol

[OakAshandThorn]

Has your computor stuck on DITTO???????Must have been notified of at least 12 messages of gobbligook!!!lol
Oh no! :shocked: The Borg have taken over my computer! :zombie-fighting:
In all seriousness, I haven't been on here for some time and I'm catching up on greeting new folks ;).

[Stevie B]

Welcome buddy :welcome:
Sounds like a real adventure, good luck.

Stevie