Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty open to West Country riders

Horse riders in Devon and Cornwall can now enjoy hacking in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) on the newly opened Tamar Trails.

There are two five-mile circular routes open to horses – Morwell Rocks and Devon Great Consols, a former copper mine.

Covering a variety of terrains including forest paths and open grassland tracks, they can either be combined or ridden separately.

The Tamar Trails, created using existing routes where possible, have opened up privately owned and previously inaccessible land.

The trails are the result of 10 years work on the Tamar Valley area, which was designated an AONB in 1995 and is on the Devon/Cornwall border.

The work was funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, “Discover the Extraordinary” – a project within the rural development programme for England funded by the European Union and DEFRA – and various other local sources.

Permits to ride on the Tamar Trails cost £5 and can be bought by calling the AONB on 01822 835030.

Parking for lorries or trailers is £4 per day and proceeds will be reinvested into maintenance of the trails.

For more information, download the Tamar Trails brochure here: http://www.tamarvalley.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/trails-new-June-2.pdf

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