Whether you have a non-rider in your party or simply want to get a sense of what adventures you can have out of the saddle, here our some of our favourite days out. Click the links below to find out more.
Discover the Stourhead Estate
For an unforgettable day’s hiking don the walking boots and head to the Stourhead Estate. It is the jewel in the crown of English country estates, a 3000 acre garden built in the 1700s by a fabulously wealthy and ambitious banker. The woodland and hills are littered with towers, temples and grottos and the whole place is thick with history. It is undoubtedly our favourite place in the area and we’d love to give you a tour of the house, garden and woodland.
Hike the South West Coastal Path
Another hiking option is to spend day on the South-West Coastal path. It’s in easy reach of our base and represents pure freedom. The Dorset coast is made up of rocky cliffs, inlets and small bays. Lots of great views, interesting countryside and decent pubs!
Hunt for Truffles
If you’re either a dog-lover or a gourmand how about a day truffle hunting? Traditionally people used pigs to snuffle out these precious fungi but now dogs are the choice: the pigs tended to eat the truffles! There is a local company that offer a couple of hours out with the truffle hound, a truffle-y lunch and some history on this rare delicacy.
Visit the Fleet Air Arm Museum
This is the website for the Fleet Air Arm – its the largest collection of naval aircraft in Europe and is genuinely breathtaking. Our favourite exhibit is the lifesize carrier experience; they are very good at letting you get close to the aeroplanes. They’ve got exhibits on the all the major conflicts on the 20th century and a Concorde too.
Explore the Cerne Abbas Giant & surrounding area
A super day for those with an interest in the flora and fauna of our region is a visit to Cerne Abbas. It’s a typical picturesque village until you notice this on the hillside above the houses. Cerne is set in the most incredible landscape and we work closely with a farmer in the area. Edward is really knowledgeable about the landscape, natural history and culture of the Dorset hills. He can provide chalk-stream fishing, fantastic farm tours, and shooting on his patch.
Take to the road in an Aston Martin
For unforgettable ‘boys day out’ get behind the wheel of an Aston Martin.There are some super roads up through Dorset and into Hampshire where a couple of hours can be passed at the national motor museum in Beaulieu. From there drive down to the sea, cruise along the coast and have fish and chips for tea before heading home across some stunning hill country. We can arrange Aston Martins, Ferraris, Porches and indeed a wealth of beautiful modern and classic sport cars.
Stock up on Hunting Attire
A trip to England is a great opportunity to stock on hunting clothes and equiptment. We can arrange trips to Patey is Cirencester for hats, to Calcutts for coats and to the UK’s best boot makers. We are also just down the road from The Hunting Stock Market – Dorset’s answer to a hunting kit supermarket!.
Fly over Hunt Country
This is a particularly exciting option for non-hunting members of your party. Whilst the foxhunters are crossing the country below, why not take to the sky to see some of the action from a vintage open-cockpit Tigermoth? Alternatively, choose a helicopter as the finest way to see the South West’s coast from the air.
Sit for an Equestrian Portrait
What better memento than an original drawing or painting of your days in the saddle with Blackthorn & Brook. We work with acclaimed equestrian artist Michelle McCullagh to capture your hunting adventures forever.The list goes on and we will keep adding to it. Expect more about kennel tours, visits to historic Bath, horse shows and more.
