Itineraries
4 Day Discovery (3 nights)
Arrive early afternoon being met by Jake who will settle you in and get you acquainted with your mountain and forest surroundings, the other people and animals on the farm. After a short introduction with our horses in either the outdoor or indoor ménage you take an early evening ride on the tracks that traverse the farm. Through beech woods and across grassy meadows doused in the beauty of the evening light. Arrive back at the farmstead just before dark in time to ready yourself for an aperitif followed by a 4 course meal of home grown and prepared organic farm fare.
Wake at a civilised hour in the morning for breakfast of eggs from the chickens, yoghurt from the cow and freshly baked bread. After which you will mount your new found friend and trusty steed to follow the valley in which the farm is nestled downwards and to the west. Crossing several other farms on the way along limestone tracks. You will then pass into evergreen forest scented the aroma of pine.
After a few twists and turns and some cantering up hills the path opens out onto a hilltop ridge ending at the 'Tour de Bezuadun', an ancient ruined tower formerly used as a look out point, and when you see the view you'll understand why! Here you stop for a picnic style lunch, admiring the scenery and giving you and your horse a well deserved rest, before riding home in the afternoon by a route that you have picked out from a distance at the tower. Arriving back at the farm for the evening festivities.
After your morning breakfast you'll take to the saddle again riding out of the farm to the east, up over the very top end of the valley to be confronted with a view of mountains, hilltop villages and forest that lead all the way to the Alps. You will then head down the other side, with the backdrop of the awe inspiring cliffs above connecting up with forest randonnés (public bridle-ways). Walk, trot or canter along broad paths winding there way through coniferous forest dominated by Mediterranean pine. This opens out on to a meadow littered with flowers in the spring at Rochefourchat, France's least populace commune (or parish) which has grand total of 1 inhabitant! Because this is a long days riding here the horses get a chance to drink and graze the lush grass while Jake prepares a a well deserved 3 course picnic before a short siesta. Once lunch has been digested back on the horses and you continue winding your way down the hill to the valley bottom at Chastel Arnuad.
Now the only way is up and you and your horse will receive a good workout and an exciting ride cantering up through forest tracks and past limestone farmsteads passing viewing spots each with its own angle of the cliffs of the Le Trois Becs. Back to La Combe for another delightful meal of home grown produce and a last chance to mull over the experiences you've had with your horse and time to pick your hosts brain about local legends and folklore.
Your final morning and after breakfast a last adventure with your new equine friend. This time around to the west and up over the hills into the Forêt de Saou (Saou forest), which lies in a synclinal bowl bordered by Les Trois Becs. These enchanting woods offer fantastic forest tracks for canters and being made up by a combination of Beech and Pine offer a dazzling array of colours and lights on Autumn days.
Once out of the woods you ride out on to the open grassland of the 'Pré de l'ane' (meadow of the donkey) which covers the topside of the cliffs above La Combe. Get as close to the edge as you dare to have your breath taken away by the views stretching from the Alps in the east to the Rhône Valley in the west, with a bird's eye view of the farm that has been your home for the last four days. After a picnic lunch here you make your descent back to La Combe, and say your good-byes to your horse, Marthe, Chris, Jake and any other animals that you have become friends with since your stay!