What better way to explore quiet woods, rolling hills and coastal trails than on horseback? Whether you’re looking for a quick circuit on the edge of town or a day out further afield, there are plenty of places for you and your horse to enjoy.

Find a forest for horse riding

We welcome horses

Many of our forest roads and trails are ideal for horse riding. You can’t beat a gentle springtime hack through bluebell woods, watching wildlife from the saddle, or an exhilarating canter through a carpet of crisp autumn leaves. Here are some of our favourite horse riding destinations.

Places to explore

• Choose quiet tracks to trot through the beautiful coastal pinewood of Roseisle, Moray and take a picnic to enjoy along the sandy shore.
• Head for the lush forest of Ae near Moffat, where you can enjoy stunning views across the Ae plateau from the scenic Countryside Trail.
• Tweed Valley Forest Park near Peebles has seven forests to choose from; Cademuir and Cardrona are particularly good for cross-country hacks with breath-taking views.

There’s plenty of room for horse boxes at many of our car parks, with designated parking areas at forests including Bennachie near Aberdeen, Loch Ard near Aberfoyle and Culbin in Moray.  But please do explore any of the forests near you or further afield: they’re your woods.

Heading out on horseback

The forest trails are open to everyone. You can find more information in the Scottish Outdoor Access Code, and BHS Scotland provides some helpful Responsible Riding guidance. We fully support the work of BHS Scotland.

Taking care of business

If your horse drops while you are in the car park, please tidy up and take the dung home with you. If you notice your horse dung once you are out on a trail that's well used by walkers, we ask that you please dismount and kick it to the side.

Trails in the Tweed Valley Forest Park

The Tweed Valley offers some of the best tracks and trails for horse riding in Scotland, and we’ve worked hard with local stakeholders to ensure our forests in this area cater to horse riders, and to every forest user. Find out more about how we’re working to create ideal environments for walking, mountain biking and horse riding in the Tweed Valley.

Tweed Valley Zoning Plan (PDF 6MB)