The Ministry of Defence (MOD) and The British Horse Society (BHS) have joined forces to promote safe off-road horse-riding opportunities on the UK Defence Training Estate.
A brand new ‘Riding on MOD land’ page on the BHS’s website has been published, containing information about accessible riding routes, along with guidance on how to stay safe when riding on MOD sites.
Horse riders will be able to visit the webpage, along with the public safety information that is available on the GOV.UK website, to get details on where to ride safely, information about restrictions to accessing MOD land, and to access links to check firing times before heading out onto the Defence estate. The new webpage also contains clear and easy to digest guidance about hazards that can be faced on MOD land, along with general safety hints and tips for horse riders wishing to make use of the fantastic scenery and network of off-road routes that can be experienced across MOD sites.
The MOD owns and maintains hundreds of thousands of hectares of land which are primarily used for military training. The landscapes across its estate are incredibly varied, including coastal cliffs, sand dunes, remote hills, and even green spaces in highly populated areas. The Defence estate also has some of the greatest biodiversity in the UK. Parts of this estate are publicly accessible and have the potential for amazing horse rides, and other access and recreation opportunities.
James Nevitt, Senior Public Access & Recreation Advisor, Defence Infrastructure Organisation, said:
“While the primary use of MOD land is to enable military training, we are committed to maintaining publicly accessible areas, some of which provide ideal horse-riding opportunities.
“We encourage horse riders to access MOD land when and where it is safe to do so, and we’re excited to be working with The British Horse Society to increase awareness of how to access our estate safely. We hope this guidance is well received and that riders continue to enjoy using MOD land.”
Mark Weston, Director of Access at The British Horse Society added:
“A lot of much needed safe off-road riding is available on the MOD estate across the nations, and it is really important that horse riders know how to access this safely. The new ‘Riding on MOD Land’ page on our website provides just that advice, at the click of a button. We are pleased to be working with the MOD to produce this valuable information resource.”
In Powys, Wales, The Epynt Way offers 65km of off-road riding opportunities within Sennybridge Training Area. The Training Area consists mainly of a flat upland plateau known locally as Mynydd Epynt. From here there are spectacular views across to the Black Mountains, the Brecon Beacons, the Cambrian Mountains, and the Carmarthenshire Black Mountain.
On Salisbury Plain Training Area in Wiltshire, the Imber Range Perimeter Path provides a 50km mixed terrain route. The circular route follows the perimeter of the Imber Firing Range Danger Area and offers fantastic views of the Westbury White Horse, a famous landmark believed to have been cut into the chalk landscape about 400 years ago.
Otterburn Training Area in Northumberland spans over 22,000 hectares of land, parts of which can be accessed for horse rides alongside the moorland birds, as well as ravens and even wild goats. When military training is not taking place, there are excellent opportunities not only for horse riding but also cycling, walking, and climbing – or even just driving along the military roads.
The guidance on the new webpage will help to ensure that horse riders accessing these routes, and many others across the UK Defence estate, are able to stay safe while enjoying the landscapes and vistas they offer.
