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Horse Riding Breaks

Tarn Valley, France (all levels)

Offering highly flexible, great-value riding and tuition to suit all abilities, Les Juliannes has proved very popular over the years, with many guests choosing it for a break with their families and non-riding companions. Whether you have never before ridden a horse or have been riding for several years and are looking for more demanding lessons, you will enjoy a relaxing break here amid the timeless landscapes of the sunny Tarn Valley in south-west France.

Les Juliannes has a wide range of friendly horses and ponies, all well-schooled and keen with excellent temperaments, and Fabrice and Gabriel, your qualified, English-speaking instructors, take great care when pairing you with your mount. The facilities, like the horses, are first-rate, with indoor and outdoor manèges, show jumps and cross-country fences. Our arrangements with the centre include six 1-hour lessons, or three 2-hour hacks, or a combination of the two. Additional riding can be arranged and paid for locally at 16 euros per hour. Between lessons, simply relax in the sitting room or by the pool with a good book, or stroll through the surrounding countryside. We can arrange a hire car for you if you prefer to explore the beautiful Tarn Valley, and particularly recommend this option if you are travelling with a non-riding companion.

You stay two minutes from the centre in chambres d' hôtes accommodation at an attractively rustic 17th-century farmhouse. Nick Hudswell and his French wife, Marie-Christine, are charming hosts, and each evening guests gather round the refectory table for leisurely dinners (wine included). When this is closed at the start and end of the year, or if you simply prefer to have greater independence, you can stay on a self-catering basis in one of Nick’s well-equipped, excellent-value gîtes just 2 kilometres from the centre. Prices for the self-catering option vary according to the size of the gîte, so please contact us for further details and prices.

Minimum two riders

Prices & travel 2008

*Prices include: 4 nights’ dinner & breakfast, 6 hours of riding
Self-drive also includes: P&O Ferries Dover-Calais (1h15)
Ride price also includes: return rail & taxi from Toulouse city centre (out/home 1h50)
Recommended airport: Toulouse
Latest flight arrival time: 1500
Earliest flight departure time: 1200
Book your flights through us and we’ll find the best route, times and price to suit you
Start: Saturday, Sunday, Monday or Tuesday (we recommend Tuesday so you have the option of joining a 4-hour hack on Friday)

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Catalonia on Horseback, Spain

Fast, exciting riding through amazing scenery, and a friendly, relaxed atmosphere are key ingredients of any holiday at Can Jou, and it is these two elements that make the holidays here so memorable. There is a special charm to Catalonia, and the Garrotxa region at the foot of the Pyrenees - where the sunny Mediterranean climate makes for fantastic riding from February until late November - is particularly enchanting, with scenery characterised by ancient volcanoes, wooded valleys and medieval villages of honey-coloured stone.

Run by Mick Peters and his Spanish wife, Rosa, Can Jou is a 15th-century farmhouse tucked away in the mountains, enjoying views over rugged peaks. With rustic, comfortable bedrooms and an outdoor pool, it makes a lovely base for your break. The focal point is the dining room, the setting for dinners of delicious Catalan specialities. As the wine flows, so the laughter and animated chatter increases.

Perfect for blowing away the cobwebs, our weekend breaks run from Thursday to Sunday, with two full days of riding. On Friday morning, you meet your mount, which you help care for over the weekend, and set off from Can Jou, led by your experienced, English-speaking guide. You ride over the sierra, the fit Andalucian horses proving themselves astonishingly agile over the hilly terrain, and descend into the next valley, which is dotted with ancient villages. Your destination is Santa Pau, a fortified village in the heart of the volcanic region, from where you return to Can Jou by minibus. The next day, after an early breakfast, you are transferred back to Santa Pau and explore the volcanic region further at a lively pace, arriving at Can Jou in the afternoon for an equally lively farewell dinner.

Minimum two riders

Prices & travel 2008

*Prices include: 3 nights’ dinner & breakfast, 2 picnics, 2 days of riding; return transfer from Girona or Barcelona airport (out/home 0h45 from Girona; out/home 1h40 from Barcelona)
Recommended airports: Girona & Barcelona
Latest flight arrival time: Girona 1845; Barcelona 1715
Earliest flight departure time: Girona 1100; Barcelona 1200
Book your flights through us and we’ll find the best route, times and price to suit you
Start: Thursday

> Notes on prices
> Personal holiday insurance
> Booking form

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