Vol. I · The Land Willowmere Lane The estate

The Grounds

where you ride, when we are open, and how to book

Private estate · Tuesday to Sunday · By appointment

The estate is private land, used only by riders with a confirmed booking. It is never hired out by the hour. There is a sand arena, trails along old fence lines, a water meadow and woodland. The entrance is not signposted; you receive directions when your booking is confirmed.

Below you will find where you ride, the days we are open, how a first visit works, and how fees are confirmed. Nothing on this page can be booked directly. Send a request and we will reply, as the estate has done since 1866.

A white horse cantering at dusk, dark trees behind — A white horse at dusk. No clubhouse and no viewing deck, just the land.

Where you ride

Arena, trails and meadow

for lessons, trail rides and turnout

A rider on a chestnut crossing the school, blurred with speed

Lessons and jumping

The sand arena

A large sand arena with timber rails and no viewing gallery. All private and jumping lessons take place here. The surface is kept for our own riders and is never hired out. One rider at a time, or two who ride together, on our horse or yours.

A horse on a lane between fences, storm light overhead

Trail rides

The trails

Trail rides start from the lane between the gates and follow paths the estate has used for generations. Most go out in the evening, when the light softens. There are fences along the way for riders who want them, and heights are built up gradually. You ride the land properly, rather than being led past it as a view.

A white horse cantering across the meadow, autumn trees behind

Turnout

The lower meadow

After work, the horses are turned out on the lower meadow, which runs down to the edge of the wood. Some sessions finish with a canter across it. Below the meadow are the water and the willows. The cold plunge is a separate facility at the house; see the baths.

Opening days

When we are open

Tuesday to Sunday by appointment, closed on Monday

Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun
Closed	By appointment	By appointment	By appointment	By appointment	By appointment	By appointment

First visit

Your first session

Tell us about your riding experience, the date you would like, and whether you need one of our horses. There is no membership and nothing to join. If the first session goes well, we keep your details on file for next time.

Returning riders

Coming back

We keep a record of returning riders, not a club: no subscription and no membership card. We will already know your level, how you ride, and which horse suits you. Every return visit is still booked by letter.

Fees

How fees work

prices are confirmed in our reply, not listed here

Session	Fee
Private lesson	Confirmed in our reply
Jumping lesson	Confirmed in our reply
Evening trail ride, weather permitting	Confirmed in our reply
Use of one of our horses	Added if you need one
Returning riders	Confirmed in our reply, as before

Gallery

The grounds in photographs

arena, hillside, field and woodland

A white horse cantering in the paddock at evening — Fig. I · A white horse cantering in the paddock.

A grey horse on a hillside, mist in the valley below — Fig. II · A grey on the hillside above a misty valley.

A path through the trees of the estate — Fig. IV · A woodland path used for trail rides.

A bay horse walking through tall meadow grass — Fig. V · A bay walking through the long meadow grass.

Hooves at the gallop, blurred with speed — Fig. VI · At the gallop on good ground.