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You may wish to download our terms and conditions for reading or printing offline.
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The Adventure
The distance travelled each day varies greatly depending on the specific ride but will be in the region of 5-15km per day. Whether you are on an action packed obstacle filled ride or a point to point journey, you will enjoy lots of time in the saddle. A full day is 5-6 hours and a half day is about 2½-3 hours depending on speed of travel and ground conditions on the day.
We can take up to a maximum of six riders, which makes our rides really personal and low impact on the environment. We are able to cater for larger groups by running subsequent rides over the course of a day/weekend to provide a bespoke itinerary for clubs or social gatherings i.e. University Clubs, Corporate Event or Birthday/Hen Party.
What We Provide
- Well-trained and experienced horses
- Two experienced & qualified trail leaders to guide you
- Specifically designed and tested trail routes to provide safe but exhilarating riding
- First aid and other assistance as required
- All necessary public liability and business insurance
- Riding hats up to current (2016) safety standards
- Hi-vis tabards (i.e. necessary for riding on public roads)
- A saddle bag for you to carry a few small personal items (i.e. camera, waterproofs)
- Light refreshment or picnic lunches (as applicable) ‘on the hoof’
For short breaks and holidays we also provide:
- Overnight accommodation – based on two people sharing (see details below)
- Camp-out equipment (where applicable)
- Breakfast and evening meals at local restaurants, guests houses and pubs
- All local transport requirements during the event
We expect you to get involved with caring for and preparing your horse during your trip. This is an important part of the experience and a great way to bond with your horse. We will support you to do this at all times.
In addition we can provide at cost:
- Local transfers between the nearest airport or public transport station and the ride. These will be arranged according to individual customers’ requirements. Prices will be provided on enquiry. General information on transport options and directions for each location are provided within directions.
- Other ‘non-riding’ activities for you to take a rest day from riding, or to extend your Scottish wilderness experience at each of our four locations. Options may include sailing, sea-kayaking, mountain biking, boat/fishing trips, bush craft skills and wildlife tours, even an opportunity to catch your own lobster. Again, prices provided on enquiry.
- We use authentic and comfortable accommodation with options for good quality, locally sourced food. Where our rides are in the most remote and wild locations, accommodation and eating options can be limited. Bookings are made on a first come basis.
- Prices are based on two people sharing. Single travellers may have to pay a single occupancy charge (maximum £30pppn) in the event that either; you are not willing to share; or there is not another single traveller on the trip.
While all reasonable care has been taken to give a detailed and accurate account of your adventure, routes may be subject to change if weather, ground conditions, rider ability or incident dictate. Your precise accommodation depends on availability and will be confirmed after receipt of your deposit.
The Rider
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Please note all riders must wear a riding helmet. If you want to use your own helmet it must be compliant with the BHS Approved Centre – Hat Guidelines 2016 (see PDF for details.)
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In addition to meeting the weight and riding ability requirements, the following age restrictions also apply.
- All unaccompanied riders must be 18 years of age or older.
- Riders aged 12-18 years are welcome on any of our rides but must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
- Riders aged 8-12 years are only able to join our half day rides and must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian
- Riders aged 6-8 years are only able to participate in a 1 hour bespoke trek or lesson and must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
Our horses are fit and in good health but they work hard and we want to ensure they don't get sore backs.
- We cannot take riders over 15 stone
- On full day rides and holidays our weight limit is 14 stone and there may be further restrictions depending on the group (i.e. not all of our horses are able to carry the maximum weight limit).
- An experienced or tall rider may sit very light so this is not an exact limit. Please contact us to discuss your individual situation.
Riding Ability
As a rough guide we would interpret riding ability on the following basis:
Beginner: means someone who has never ridden before or only a couple of times.
Novice: Riding experience at walk and trot but not confident at canter.
Intermediate: Confident at walk, trot and canter on a forward horse, on open ground.
Advanced: Confident at all paces on a forward horse. Advanced rides may includes long and/or fast canters and small jumps.
Beginner: means someone who has never ridden before or only a couple of times.
Novice: Riding experience at walk and trot but not confident at canter.
Intermediate: Confident at walk, trot and canter on a forward horse, on open ground.
Advanced: Confident at all paces on a forward horse. Advanced rides may includes long and/or fast canters and small jumps.
Health
You must tell us about any medical condition or disability that may affect your riding, or your health during the ride. If unsure, please check with your doctor first. We will make every effort to accommodate special requirements so long as we can do this without affecting normal health and safety considerations or other riders' enjoyment of the experience.
Travellers should ensure that they have adequate insurance that covers them for the riding activities that they will carry out during their holiday, including injury, death, repatriation, trip cancellation and/or curtailment. Please see our cancellation policy for details of our terms and obligations.
Booking
All riders need to:
- Complete a booking form that will ask for medical details, age, weight and riding ability and any special dietary requirements
- Sign an insurance waiver
- Agree any additional accommodation, transport or other activity requirements to be included in the price
- Pay a 40% deposit to secure their booking
- Pay the balance 4 weeks before the ride begins
- Arrive with at least the minimal requirements from the kit list
You can pay your deposit and balance by PayPal or bank transfer.
- A PayPal invoice can be provided on request. A 3.5% charge will be applicable to payments from the UK and a 4.5% charge to all payments from other countries.
- By Bank Transfer by BACS to Wilder Ways, Account number 13766660, Sort Code 80-22-60, using your name as reference.
The 40% deposit is non-refundable.
We require a minimum four weeks’ notice for any cancellations and if you cancel your trip within 4 weeks of the start date we will not provide any refund. We will however be provide you with a voucher for you to use on an alternative trip with us at any time within the next 12 months (subject to availability). This voucher will be limited to 80% of the total paid to cover costs incurred as a result of your cancellation.
In the unlikely event that Wilder Ways have to cancel a booking you will be notified at least four weeks before the start.
In the event of a cancellation Wilder Ways will provide either:
The obligations of these conditions do not apply to cases of force majeure.
We require a minimum four weeks’ notice for any cancellations and if you cancel your trip within 4 weeks of the start date we will not provide any refund. We will however be provide you with a voucher for you to use on an alternative trip with us at any time within the next 12 months (subject to availability). This voucher will be limited to 80% of the total paid to cover costs incurred as a result of your cancellation.
In the unlikely event that Wilder Ways have to cancel a booking you will be notified at least four weeks before the start.
In the event of a cancellation Wilder Ways will provide either:
- a complete refund for the holiday or/
- a voucher for another holiday with Wilder Ways of the same value or/
- a voucher for a holiday with one of our partner riding organisations to the same value. Our partners sell rides globally and are unlikely to be able to provide you with an alternative in Scotland.
The obligations of these conditions do not apply to cases of force majeure.
Sorry, your dogs (or other pets) are not allowed on Wilder Ways holidays. Given that we work away from home our dogs may be on location with us (not on the rides), so please let us know if you have any dog allergies or issues and we will keep them separate from you.
Kit List
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The following kit is strongly recommended for your comfort and enjoyment of the ride. The weather in Scotland can be very changeable, even in the summer.
As a minimum, appropriate footwear is mandatory. You will not be allowed to ride in sandals, trainers or any footwear with ridged soles that could get trapped in the stirrups. |
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You may wear your own riding helmet (if you have one) but only if it complies with the latest standards. See here for full details.
½ or full day ride |
Suitable footwear for riding i.e. hard, smooth sole and slight heel |
Waterproof jacket and waterproof trousers |
Gloves |
Comfortable clothes for riding i.e. jodhpurs - jeans are not recommended |
Any medication you are taking |
Slimline camera (or phone) |
Sunscreen and sunglasses (on string) |
Insect repellent |
Waterproof bag for phone or camera |
Bum bag to carry personal items |
Riding Holiday (short break or week) please also bring |
Some cash money in pounds sterling |
Warm clothes and plenty of spare dry ones suitable for riding |
Spare footwear suitable for riding |
A shade hat and woolly hat |
Indoor shoes for the evenings |
Towel and wash bag |
Swimwear |
Baggage Allowance
Given that we will be ‘mobile’ and have a lot of equipment between us all, we need to limit baggage to ensure we can transport and handle it effectively. As such, please ensure you pack such that you limit your luggage to a single rucksack or small suitcase
Policy Statements
Child Protection Policy
Wilder Ways is committed to their child protection policy that acknowledges their duty of care to safeguard the welfare of children and young people. It will ensure that the practice of such safeguards reflects statutory responsibilities, Government guidance, best practice and the requirements of the Charities Commission. The policy applies to all adults working in positions of responsibility within the company including partners, paid staff and volunteers. Wilder Ways recognises that the welfare of children and young people are paramount in all circumstances. Wilder Ways aims to ensure that children and young people have a positive and enjoyable experience in a safe environment and are protected from abuse whilst participating in Wilder Ways' activities. Wilder Ways acknowledge that particular children and young people of any ability, gender and ethnicity may be particularly vulnerable to abuse and aims to take appropriate steps to ensure their welfare. Wilder Ways will:
- Prioritise the safety and welfare of children and young people.
- Ensure that all partners, staff and volunteers are clear about their responsibilities with respect to the safeguarding of children and young people.
- Ensure all partners and staff complete a 'Child Protection for Equestrians Course'. This is a comprehensive course specifically designed for those in regular contact with children through their work in the equestrian sector. It covers abuse and identifying concerns, legislation and guidance, child protection policies and procedures, working with other agencies, handling allegations and complaints and how and when to make referrals. The course is in line with government guidance and is written in association with the British Equestrian Federation.
- Prevent the involvement of unsuitable individuals in any activity involving young people by the use of Disclosure and the application of best practice in the recruitment of staff and volunteers.
- Keep safe any personal information or records of any safeguarding concerns.
- Immediately address any failure to comply with the terms of this policy.
- Review this policy annually and/or in the light of any changes to relevant legislation or government guidance.
Quality
Wilder Ways will always work in such as way as to ensure the following:
Wilder Ways are wholly committed to this Quality Statement and shall conduct regular reviews to ensure its continuing relevance, suitability and effectiveness.
- To ensure high standards of horse health and welfare (and happiness).
- To implement and maintain a Quality System that meets, or exceeds, current legislation.
- To respond to client needs as in a partnership.
- To develop, resource and continually improve our capacity and expertise within our scope of operations.
- To adhere to our environmental, inclusion and data protection policies.
- To ensure sustained profitability.
Wilder Ways are wholly committed to this Quality Statement and shall conduct regular reviews to ensure its continuing relevance, suitability and effectiveness.
Environment
Wilder Ways will always work in such a way as to ensure the following:
- Positive impact on biodiversity by considering the interest of protected species and habitats and minimising our impact on natural habitats and species.
- Minimal impact on the trails and the landscapes we ride in - take only memories (and photos), leave only a few hoof-prints.
- Waste is minimised by low paper use in the office, use of recycled or re-used products including all paper, recycling of all waste where possible.
- Energy efficiency is maximised by high levels of insulation in the office, use of low energy appliances, energy efficiency measures.
- Low carbon emissions are promoted by regular vehicle maintenance, use of public transport and sharing transport wherever possible.
- Use of materials with the minimum environmental impact, e.g. cleaning products, equipment.
Inclusion
Wilder Ways work to encourage inclusion throughout the performance of any tasks and will not tolerate discrimination, e.g. on the grounds of race, sex, age or disability.
Data Protection
Schedule 1 to the Data Protection Act lists the data protection principles in the following terms:
1. Personal data shall be processed fairly and lawfully and, in particular, shall not be processed unless –
(a) at least one of the conditions in Schedule 2 is met, and
(b) in the case of sensitive personal data, at least one of the conditions in Schedule 3 is also met.
2. Personal data shall be obtained only for one or more specified and lawful purposes, and shall not be further processed in any manner incompatible with that purpose or those purposes.
3. Personal data shall be adequate, relevant and not excessive in relation to the purpose or purposes for which they are processed.
4. Personal data shall be accurate and, where necessary, kept up to date.
5. Personal data processed for any purpose or purposes shall not be kept for longer than is necessary for that purpose or those purposes.
6. Personal data shall be processed in accordance with the rights of data subjects under this Act.
7. Appropriate technical and organisational measures shall be taken against unauthorised or unlawful processing of personal data and against accidental loss or destruction of, or damage to, personal data.
8. Personal data shall not be transferred to a country or territory outside the European Economic Area unless that country or territory ensures an adequate level of protection for the rights and freedoms of data subjects in relation to the processing of personal data.
1. Personal data shall be processed fairly and lawfully and, in particular, shall not be processed unless –
(a) at least one of the conditions in Schedule 2 is met, and
(b) in the case of sensitive personal data, at least one of the conditions in Schedule 3 is also met.
2. Personal data shall be obtained only for one or more specified and lawful purposes, and shall not be further processed in any manner incompatible with that purpose or those purposes.
3. Personal data shall be adequate, relevant and not excessive in relation to the purpose or purposes for which they are processed.
4. Personal data shall be accurate and, where necessary, kept up to date.
5. Personal data processed for any purpose or purposes shall not be kept for longer than is necessary for that purpose or those purposes.
6. Personal data shall be processed in accordance with the rights of data subjects under this Act.
7. Appropriate technical and organisational measures shall be taken against unauthorised or unlawful processing of personal data and against accidental loss or destruction of, or damage to, personal data.
8. Personal data shall not be transferred to a country or territory outside the European Economic Area unless that country or territory ensures an adequate level of protection for the rights and freedoms of data subjects in relation to the processing of personal data.
Personal data is only held on a single mainframe computer and not transferred onto mobile devices. Personal data may be used for the promotion of Wilder Ways products with permission by the owner. If such permission is not given, personal data is destroyed after the purpose for which it was obtained from the owner. Personal data will not be transferred to any other party unless required by law.
