Routes

Bridleways

Bridleways.co.uk is wholly owned and managed by Routecard Limited. Our aim is to provide a service that can be used by horse riders, riding groups, equine or bridleway campaign groups, local councils, local businesses and Rights of Way Officers. Bridleways.co.uk provides an internet based database of national routes suitable for horse riders. These routes take advantage of bridleways and quite lanes and are accessible to the entire equine community. Users of the website can search for routes nationally and contribute to the service by submitting their own local or popular riding routes. The website also allows users to print and comment on routes shared on the system

Ride UK

The National Bridleway Database and information centre from the British Horse Society

Sussex Rides

Sussex Rides promotes a book by local Sussex rider, Mary Parker. The book contains forty recommended rides of varying distances, all starting from suitable parking places. All the routes have been carefully inspected and problem areas avoided or put right. As well as sketch maps and detailed directions, every ride contains a wealth of information about the history, folklore and people associated with the route. Sussex Rides has 210 pages and is spiral bound, allowing it to be folded back for ease of reading and handling while out of doors. It is generously illustrated with colour and black and white photographs. The author, Mary Parker, was born in Sussex and from an early age explored widely on foot, bicycle and horseback. A graduate of the University of Sussex, she has since, in the course of her work, continued her quest for local knowledge. As a founder member of the Mid Sussex Area Bridleways Group, she knows better than most the sort of problems that can be encountered when riding in out-of-the-way places

Toll Rides Off-Road Trust - (TROT)

TROT – The Toll Rides (Off Road) Trust was established in 1990 by a group of riders who had few safe off-road rides and were concerned at the growing amount of traffic on their local roads. They approached farmers to ask if they could pay to ride on specific routes on their farmland.

Even carriage drivers are not overlooked. Toll Routes for Carriage Driving have been available since the early days, with several farm and many forestry routes suitable for driving. TROT is also privileged to administer the Permit system for many of the FC forests in the South East. As a TROT member one has access to both farm and forestry rides and at full adult rate for no more than £2.45 a week! The principal objective remains the same

Toll Rides Reach Parts of the Countryside Other Paths Can’t! Visit the webiste to find a route near you...

TROT – The Toll Rides (Off Road) Trust

TROT – The Toll Rides (Off Road) Trust was established in 1990 by a group of riders who had few safe off-road rides and were concerned at the growing amount of traffic on their local roads. They approached farmers to ask if they could pay to ride on specific routes on their farmland. SETR, as the scheme first became known, received invaluable advice from the National Farmers Union, The Country Landowners Association and a similar scheme running in East Anglia. From the start the scheme was properly organised with special legal agreements drawn up for use by Farmers and Riders. In just a few years dozens of networks of toll rides, connecting to local public bridlepaths and byways, were opened in the South East. The need for safe off-road riding became greater as roads became busier. SETR became a Registered Charity to emphasise that it is a local community led scheme – with all profits going towards opening new safe networks. In 2001, SETR changed its name to TROT to reflect a move from its origins in the South East to a national organisation. A small admin office had to be set up since it had way outgrown the kitchen table and spare bedrooms. Worcestershire was the fifth County to join the scheme and by 2004 had six networks open! There is now a thriving network on the Warwickshire/Leicestershire border too! Riders in at least ten other counties are now well under way, with help from TROT’s ‘HQ’, to opening their own local networks. Riders pay a fee according to how many miles of toll routes are open in their ‘hackable’ radius, but can use all other farm or forestry routes nearby or further afield. Many members are taking the opportunity to go on a B&B holiday with their horses to try new rides! Even carriage drivers are not overlooked. Toll Routes for Carriage Driving have been available since the early days, with several farm and many forestry routes suitable for driving. TROT is also privileged to administer the Permit system for many of the FC forests in the South East. As a TROT member one has access to both farm and forestry rides and at full adult rate for no more than £2.30 a week! The principal objective remains the same: Toll Rides Reach Parts of the Countryside Other Paths Can’t!

Where to ride

The British Horse Society Approvals Scheme assists riders and horse owners to select an establishment that will suit their needs. All BHS Approved Establishments are inspected at least annually and establishments that qualify meet the highest standards of instruction, safety and horse care. The scheme includes over 700 riding schools and livery yards across the UK, Ireland, and overseas. All BHS Approved Schools are listed in 'Where to Ride'