Taking your horse on holiday – a dream come true?? Well, this would undoubtedly be on the bucket list for man riders out there… If you do have your own horse, there are certainly a few fabulous perks of a stable staycation.
Of course, there’s the first bonus of actually being able to go away at all – or at least not having to bother your bestie for a week of horse sitting. (“Not much to do! Just morning feed/rug/hay/muck out/exercise/turn out/hay/poo pick/rug/feed/call the vet/” etc etc… ).
Secondly, there is the incredible delight of being away, somewhere stunning and with fantastic hacking, to explore and adventure. I mean, there really is no better place for this than Exmoor… With miles of bridleways and tracks across moorland, fields and woodland, this place is a pony-lovers-playground.
Here are some options of beautiful holiday cottages on Exmoor, where you can bring your beloved horse along with you…
See all Horse Friendly Cottages on ExmoorIf you are just looking to see if there are horses/riding available for visitors, have a browse of our Exmoor Riding Useful Info & Contacts page
The Piggery, near Dulverton, Somerset (6 Horses)
6 guests | 6 horses | 2 dogs
How about this gorgeous barn conversion… and with a name like that, no prizes for guessing which animal used to make use of these facilities! The Piggery at Stockham Farm is a detached converted stone barn situated in the hills just 1.4 miles from the country town of Dulverton, within the beautiful Exmoor National Park.
Equine Facilities:
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- Horses are charged at £25 per horse per night for the use of stable, turnout, straw bedding and hay.
- Or £15 per horse per night for turn-out only.
Also at this location;
Stockham Farm, near Dulverton, Somerset (4 Horses)
4 guests | 4 horses | 2 dogs
Or perhaps stay in the Farmhouse itself… A spacious, self-contained wing of the traditional Victorian Stockham Farm. Enjoy views across the farm and the Exe Valley to the surrounding countryside, your own private garden for the sunny days or a cosy log burner for the cooler ones
Equine Facilities:
As for the Piggery above…
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- Horses are charged at £25 per horse per night for the use of stable, turnout, straw bedding and hay.
- Or £15 per horse per night for turn-out only.
Birch Cleave Stable, Simonsbath, Somerset (2 Horses)
4 guests | 2 horses | 2 dogs
Newly renovated, Birch Cleave Stable in Simonsbath offers a luxurious escape for 2 to 4 adults and up to 2 dogs and 2 horses. The cottage provides direct access to the footpaths and bridleways, just a step away from the door, making it the perfect base to head out on horseback.
Equine Facilities:
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- Stabling for up to 2 horses is available at the rear of the property.
- Stables are charged at £15 per horse per night.
- Sorry, no turnout is available.
Blagdon Cottage, Wheddon Cross, Somerset (2 Horses)
8 guests | 2 horses | 2 dogs
How about this roomy semi-detached vacation home in Blagdon Cottage, Wheddon Cross (Somerset). It offers 4 bedrooms that can accommodate up to 7/8 guests. There are two stables and a paddock available for rent. The stables are just a few meters from the house across the yard, and ample parking space for your horsebox is available. With stunning countryside to discover, you can ride out directly from the cottage over the high moors of Exmoor, not far from Dunkery.
Equine Facilities:
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- There are two stables and a paddock directly next to the property
- The stables are a few metres across the yard from the house, and there is parking for your horsebox. There is glorious countryside to explore by horseback direct from the cottage!
- Stables and paddock are charged at £10 per horse per night.
The Cowshed, Brendon Hill, Somerset (2 Horses)
2 guests | 2 horses | 2 dogs
Try this luxury rural retreat for 2, and 2 horses. It is situated on a beautiful farm in a fabulous area for walking and exploring Exmoor’s countryside and coastline, with options right from the door. The Cowshed sits within Stolford Farm, with 230 acres of farmland. Intersected by footpaths and bridleways, ride through woodlands, over hills, and across streams in the Brendon Hills.
Equine Facilities:
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- Fabulous boxes in a modern stable block
- Rent on a DIY basis, with straw and hay provided
- Grazing available on request
- Stables charged at £15 per horse per night
Also at this location;
Middle Stolford Cottage, Brendon Hill, Somerset (7 Horses!)
9 guests | 7 horses | 2 dogs
If you fancy staying on the beautiful Stolford Farm with a few more guests, then Middle Stolford Cottage has you sorted. This gorgeous traditional farmhouse offers holiday accommodation for up to 9 (7 adults, 2 children and a cot). This unique property is full of character and charm, with many traditional features reflecting its 16th-century origins. But don’t worry; there are also plenty of mod cons and extravagant extras; who fancies making use of the hot tub, tennis court, indoor BBQ and pizza oven..?
Equine Facilities:
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- Fabulous boxes in a modern stable block
- Rent on a DIY basis, with straw and hay provided
- Grazing available on request
- Stables charged at £15 per horse per night
Limecombe, Simonsbath, Somerset (4 Horses)
10 guests | 4 horses | 2 dogs
Get away from it all in this truly serene, remote location. High above sea level, head down a mile-long track to discover the secluded, south-facing Limecombe. The property sleeps up to 10 guests in 5 bedrooms, each with a private bath/shower room. Ideal for gatherings of family or friends and pet-friendly.
Equine Facilities:
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- You can bring up to 4 horses, at £25 per night
- Please get in touch for more information
East Harwood Farm Cottage, Timberscombe, Somerset (3 Horses)
4 guests | 3 horses | 2 dogs
This gorgeous, secluded cottage is set high up in Exmoor National Park on a working farm. You’ll find idyllic country views from every window from East Harwood Farm Cottage, with not another house in sight. Beautifully presented in cosy country chic, with a log burner for the colder evenings, this cottage is 200 years old and adjoins the owner’s farmhouse. Saddle up and hack for 20 minutes on bridleways to the moors.
Equine Facilities:
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- 3 stables with rubber matting are available.
- Sorry, no turnout.
- Please bring your own hay/haylage.
- £20 per horse per night, with one bale of shavings included per horse.
Harthanger View Cottage, Luxborough, Somerset (2 Horses)
4 guests | 2 horses | 1 dogs
A fabulous conversion from barn to holiday cottage, stay in Harthanger Cottage with up to 4 guests and 2 horses. Situated on a working farm nestled in picturesque valley with fabulous walking and hacking.
Equine Facilities:
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- Equestrian facilities are available to guests on a DIY basis from March through to the end of October
- The farm has direct access to excellent hacking including the famous Coleridge Way bridle path.
- The farm offers modern stabling facilities in a newly converted American Barn.
- There is a wash down area and large secure tack room with drying facilities.
- Individual turnout paddocks can be provided
- Hay and straw is included in the price.
- Charges are £20 per horse, per night for stabling and turnout.
Also at this location;
Also have a browse of other properties at this location, Mill Cottage (sleeps 6) and The Granary (sleeps 4). Or why not book out a combination of cottages for a group riding holiday to get everyone involved? The moor the merrier!! (See what I did there…)
Linhay Cottage, Withypool, Somerset (3 Horses)
3 guests | 3 horses | 2 dogs
Tucked away at the end of a 3/4 mile driveway, find the truly rural Linhay Cottage. You can’t quite snuggle up in bed with your horse for the night, but this is a close second… With the cottage adjacent and overlooking the stabling, you can feel like they’re right there with you… And keep an eye on them for any mischief, while you snuggle by the log burner on the sofa!
From here, you can hack directly onto Withypool Common, in the heart of Exmoor. Also not far from here are the famous Tarr Steps, well worth a visit.
Equine Facilities:
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- There are 3 stables and turnout available.
- The price is £15 per horse per night for short stays; price is negotiable for bookings of 7 nights or longer.
- Included in that price is use of stable (with Miscanthus bedding provided) and turnout.
- The owner is very happy to discuss any requirements with regard to turnout and use of the stabling facilities.
Honeymead Farmhouse, near Exford, Somerset (4 Horses)
10 guests | 4 horses | 2 dogs
Stay at this stunning country house with up to 10 guests (and 4 horses!). Honeymead Farmhouse is within a 1,000 acre estate on Exmoor National Park, with extensive paths across the estate and beyond.
Equine Facilities:
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- A stable yard is located near to the property, it’s a private yard which is kept nice and tidy.
- Stables can be rented on a DIY basis for £20 per night per horse, including hay and straw.
- Please contact us to check stable/s availability for your selected dates before booking.
A Summary on Self-Catering with Stables; Hurrah for Horsey Holidays!
So there you have it; plenty of self-catering (with stabling!) options for turning your horsey holiday dream into a reality. Whether with stabling, turnout paddocks, or both, in a cute cottage or a country home, we hope you find your perfect
For those of you who know Exmoor, it is already obvious why this is such a perfect place for a riding holiday. For those of you yet to visit; you’re in for a treat. There really is so much incredible wildlife and glorious terrain to explore… Do so on foot, and you will experience a drop in the ocean of this beautiful place. Take the bike, and you will cover a bit more ground… Even if those hills and valleys get the thighs burning and plenty of puff. But there’s nothing quite like a day-long hack, several days running (!) to thoroughly trump them all.
To find out more on what Exmoor has to offer, have a browse through some of our posts below;
