Carriage Driving – Activities – Things to do
Largely a pleasure sport, carriage driving is a popular activity in Ruby Country, with many miles of quiet country lane through outstanding scenery, places to stop for refreshment and places to stay overnight for horse and driver to enjoy longer visits.
Scroll down the page to see new carriage driving routes available in Ruby Country.
Carriage driving is a form of horse driving in harness in which larger two or four wheeled carriages (often restored antiques) are pulled by a single horse, a pair, tandem or a four-in-hand team.
BDS Devon is an active organisation arranging many drives throughout Ruby Country and Devon, incorporating off and on road sections on most of their drives. The organisation also arranges fun and social events for all the family, making carriage driving an inclusive activity.
Ruby Country is pleased to be working with BDS Devon. Together we have been working to promote carriage driving in Ruby Country, Devon and the South West.
Equine B&B and Accommodation
There are a small but growing number of places where you can keep your horse overnight whilst undertaking a carriage driving break in Ruby Country. To find out more, click on the links or use the contact details provided.
Easterhall Park, Petrockstow, Okehampton EX20 3HP Tel: 01837 810 350
www.easterhallpark.co.uk info@easterhallpark.co.uk
Rowden Farm Livery, Rowden Farm, Germansweek, Beaworthy EX21 5TT Tel: 07969 833 984
Evergreen Farm, Beckett, Ashwater, EX21 5HE Tel: 01409 220 113
Rectory Farm, Beaworthy, EX21 5AS Tel: 01409 221 281
Carriage Driving Routes
BDS Devon and Ride the Ruby Country are creating a range of downloadable carriage driving routes. The routes are currently all along quiet country lanes but we hope soon to announce some off road aspects to drives.
Route 1 Halwill-and-Witherdon-Wood-drive
Starting from Evergreen Farm, this 13.5 mile drive uses quiet country lanes to discover some of the best parts of Ruby Country. For more detailed route layout use the map below, or refer to OS Explorer Map 112 covering Launceston and Holsworthy. Click here to download a pdf copy of the route.
View Ruby Carriage Drive 1 in a larger map
Route 2 Germansweek-and-Halwill-drive
Starting from Rectory Farm, just outside Halwill, Ruby Carriage Drive 2 uses quiet country lanes and takes in stunning scenery. The drive is about 12 miles all of which is on surfaced roads. Use OS Explorer Map 112 for more detail. To download the route, click here.
Starting from near Ashwater, this 9 mile drive takes in some beautiful countryside including part of the stunning Carey Valley. Refreshments available en route at Village Inn and Village Shop in Ashwater. Use OS Explorer Map 112 for more detail. To downlaod the route, click here.
Carriage Driving Events
To find out more about carriage driving events organised by BDS Devon, click here some of which are in Ruby Country. Why not combine a stay in Ruby Country with an event, allowing more time to explore this fascinating area.
Other useful links
Ruby Country Partnership is pleased to be supporting these businesses and would like to support more. If you are interested in working with Ruby Country Partnership to develop and promote your business please contact us at Holsworthy Information Centre on 01409 254185 or email us at info@ridetherubycountry.co.uk
