Sea, sand, and Shires…
SOME THINGS TRULY deserve the ‘bucket list item’ tag, and this is one of them. A huge expanse of smooth sand, the wind whistling past you and the thunder of hoofbeats as you speed up the beach, plus the smiles and laughter of your friends… and all this without having to wonder if it will all go to your mount’s head, resulting in a bit more excitement than intended. It makes for the perfect hack.
All this joy can be found in the Lake District, on a beach ride with Cumbrian Heavy Horses. It’s the first and only BHS-approved heavy horse riding centre, and is a cracking place. Owner Annie Rose has 18 heavy horses for riding, most of whom are Shires or Clydesdales. The day before heading to the beach I had enjoyed a farm ride on Kiva, a Clydesdale mare. The sheer glee of the sound of hoofbeats and feel of a long canter against the backdrop of the fells is hard to beat. Until you get to the beach.
The following day is breezy but dry, and we meet
