Hacking/briddleways - how to find rides

[BlueyAndBing0]

I've recently started a part loan and loving it so far. She's a relatively unfit mare so we're starting short and just exploring the local area but it seems her owners only ever rode her down the lane and back so she doesn't know where the bridle ways are. Is there an easy way to find them? Like an app perhaps? At the beginning of the year I did a weekend hacking in this area so I know they exist, but I just need to find them. Any help appreciated.

You can find bridleways on your county’s definitive rights of way map or the ordnance survey has an app which shows all uk maps including rights of way. However, just because a bridleway is on the map it doesn’t mean it’s rideable unfortunately. There’s a bridleway at the top of our lane but there are several gates which are really hard to open and close on foot and they’d be absolutely impossible with a horse. Your best bet would be asking on your local horsey Facebook groups - good luck finding places to ride

The OS Maps app is fab. It will show you where the bridleways are, where you are, and help you plan and record routes. And yes, there are some bridleways that are not passable, but the majority are. One of the fun aspects of hacking is exploring, so why not go and see what the bridleways near you are like?

As well as OS map there will be local Facebook groups for riders. They are the best place to ask as some route will be impassable and where I live there are routes not on the map.
The best places near me are old railway lines (listed on council website) forestry commission and country parks where we can roam.

These are helpful thank you. I do think a hacking app would be a fantastic invention though

There are hacking apps but I haven’t used them all. I currently use the free version of equilab which allows you to track your own hacks, and you can add friends and see their hacking routes which could be useful for you. The paid for version is expensive but includes a live tracking feature that activates your contact if you fall off and don’t move for a certain period of time.

We are thinking of moving from Southern Ireland to UK downsizing but bringing 2 horses we are oldies still riding and would like an area in South of England with good bridleways

We are oldie riders live in Southern Ireland thinking of downsizing to UK and bringing our 2 horses with us , we would like a good area for bridleways , not competition venues in South of England from Bristol down !!!! Thank you

@Rider70 there’s amazing hacking in the Surrey hills and if you’re within hacking distance of the Ridgeway in Oxfordshire then you can hack for miles - property isn’t cheap though …

Yes, look at the OS map. Footpaths and Bridleways are Public Rights of Way and as such should be passable and accessible to users. The land owner has a responsibility to ensure they are. On a Bridleway gates should open easily with trombone handles so riders can do them without dismounting. If your local Bridleway is not accessible you can complain to the PROW department at your local council or use the fix my street website. Happy hacking!
On this note footpaths are only for walkers. Bridleways for horses, bikes and walkers.

Have you asked around at the yard? When I first moved there I went out with others to see thier routes and now I have 3 or 4 different ones , google maps also if helpful when you’re out.