If you’re looking for the most unique experience in Scotland, look no further than Highlands Unbridled!
Highlands Unbridled is one of the few, if not the only, horseback riding companies in Scotland that offers horse treks where you ride from hotel to hotel through the highlands!
It’s a fantastic way to experience the Scottish Highlands and to grow as a horseperson.
There are about a dozen multi-day treks to choose from each year, plus centre-based trek and “horse care holidays”, where you work and ride at the company’s stable. Point-to-point rides where you ride from hotel to hotel are the most popular option, but out-and-back treks where you return to the same hotel each night are amazing too!
Highlands Unbridled is run by Jan, Graham, and Dominique. On our trek, Jan played a supporting role- purchasing snacks, cleaning tack, checking out trails etc., while Dominique lead us on our long distance treks.
Dominique is the main contact for Highlands Unbridled- if you’ve spoken to anyone it was probably her! She also runs their Instagram, and the beautiful photos she takes really inspired me to get on these trails.
The team at Highlands Unbridled are devoted to their horses and their company- and they know the local hotels and trekking routes like the back of their hand!
Booking Process
Since the space is so limited, spots sell out quickly. You really have to be on your A-Game to get a spot on one of these treks- it’s like competing for concert tickets!
It’s best to have an idea of which tours you’re most interested in prior to the booking day, and request your top three options when sending your booking request.
I was a little disadvantaged by my later time zone- by the time I sent my top four treks two of them had completely sold out in the three hours since booking had opened! I was disappointed to not get my top pick, but Dominique helped me choose the best option out of my two remaining preferences.
At this point, I’d been trying to get on the Coast to Coast ride for three years with no success, so I was happy to at least book my runner up: Timeless Torridon.
You’ll receive an email with a deposit request right away, and this secures your spot on the trek! It’s non refundable, so choose wisely.
Your final payment is due 6 weeks prior to your trip, but you can reach out to pay in smaller amounts over the months if you prefer.
Automatic emails come immediately, but actual responses can take some time to get. Again- they’re often out on the trails!
With only three people in the company, I can understand why communication is so sparse, but I did find it a little disconcerting to have spent so much on the trip and have such a hard time getting in touch with anyone.
Our welcoming email- which explained where were were to meet our driver who was to take us to our remote meeting point- was sent out at nearly 10pm the night before the trek, and my email with last minute questions (sent a week and a half before the trip) was not answered at all.
Had I not personally known someone who rode with this company, I would have been concerned that I was getting scammed.
Consider this review your reassurance that Highlands Unbridled is a legitimate company!
Horses
The horses were amazing! They are absolute athletes and it was a privilege to work with them!
Highlands Unbridled has a herd of 25 horses, and with a maximum of 8 riders in each group they all get plenty of rest even during the busy season.
The horses are all absolutely rock solid- there was no spooking or complaining out of them for the entire trek, regardless of how difficult the trails got. They were all clearly happy and well cared for.
I was riding a Fell Pony named Eddie during my trek and I absolutely fell in love with him and his silly little mustache. The downside of getting so connected to your horse on these rides is that when you finish your trek, it feels like leaving a good friend. I was in mourning!
Our lead horse Bella also deserves a shout out for being the absolute bravest pony around- she’d lead the way up mountains and through bogs without batting an eye.
Gear
The horses all have individual tack that’s color coded so it doesn’t get mixed up (Eddie was violet). They are all barefoot for safety reasons- imagine throwing a shoe halfway up a mountain- and wear easy boots to protect their feet instead. Think of it like the horses wearing sneakers.
I was nervous to ride in an English saddle since I’m definitely a Western rider at heart, but it went a lot better than I feared. The English endurance saddles were super light and comfortable with a little more wiggle room than a typical English saddle. The saddles all had seat savers for extra comfort which definitely helped!
Saddlebags and water bottles are provided for the ride, and I usually stocked my bags with candy for me and an apple for Eddie.
Trek Experience
The nice thing about doing an out-and-back trek each day as opposed to a point-to-point trek is that we were able to look at the weather forecast and decide what our best options would be. Where a point-to-point trek would be committed to getting to each hotel come hell or (literally) high water, we were able to choose our least swampy options each day to give the most enjoyable ride available. This was especially helpful during such a miserable summer- it was rainy and cold nearly every day for months!
As riders, we were responsible for grooming and tacking our horses before and after every ride. I struggled a bit with the easy boots since I wasn’t used to them (and Eddie’s feathers made it trickier), but Dominique was around to help with any issues and correct any mistakes.
I am a Western rider, so I needed someone to check my saddle to make sure it was sitting correctly for the first few days but it was easy enough to figure out after the first few tacks.
Tacking up became an increasingly quick experience as we all figured out what we were doing- helpful as the rides became longer each day.
Since we arrived in the late morning and it was due to become shockingly windy by the afternoon, we started with a short, 3-hour, getting-to-know-you ride that left right from the Torridon.
It was a beautiful hike around Loch Torridon, and indeed by the time we headed back to the hotel the wind was nearly blowing me off my horse!
Our second day was spent heading up towards Achnashellach.
There was a fair amount of road-riding here, but once we got back on the trails, we had we had one of the most fantastic canters of my life!
The following day was my favorite of the whole trip- we had a little bit of sunshine, some fantastic views and amazing trek up a mountain. I can’t believe the horses were able to make it up these trails!
Our final day took us from Achnashellach back to Torridon via Coulags, which was another challenging day through the mountains. This was a particularly rainy and difficult day and made me glad I’d opted for the out-and-back treks!
We did get rained on nearly every day, and one of my fellow riders had the absolute genius idea of putting a waterproof backpack cover over her saddle when she dismounted to keep it dry. What a game changer!
Speaking of my fellow riders, we had a great group of people. Aside from myself, there was only one other American, with the rest of the riders coming from all over Europe.
I was lucky enough to be second in line on the trail and right in front of a rider who brought a DSLR camera on the trails. If you want to make friends on a trip quickly, being the group photographer is clearly the way to go!
Everyone was a competent rider and we all took the poor weather with good humor, which made the overall experience more fun.
Aside from our first 3-hour day, our rides were typically about 6 hours long each day, including 30-40 minute lunches.
We covered about 50 miles over our four days of riding.
Skill Level
This is not a trip for beginner riders. I have been riding for over twenty years and there were days that left me sore and out of breath.
Rainy conditions made footing difficult and we had to hand lead our horses down slippery and steep trails several times.
Riders need to be competent in walk, trot and canter, and be able to seat small jumps. Again, I am not an English rider, so my jumps weren’t pretty, exactly, but I didn’t fall off.
A good seat is required. Several times, we had to cross slippery rock slabs that required perfect balance to keep from sliding, or we’d have to ride our horses up steep slopes and through bogs.
On the other hand, this was a wonderful trip for skilled riders. It was equal parts challenging and rewarding and I loved every moment of it.
It was also amazing to be on a trek that expected a certain riding ability. I often do single day rides where the other riders have never touched a horse before, and that can be a little frustrating.
Everyone on my ride was skilled enough to handle the difficult terrain without fear and we were able to cover ground quickly.
Accommodation
There are a few different locations we could have stayed in- and of course, we were in the Stables! The rooms were beautiful. Comfortably appointed with a fantastic shower (important after a long day of riding), I actually still dream of their pillows and bathrobes.
I wish I’d had a little longer to take advantage of the stunning grounds but that was really my own fault.
Every day after my ride, I’d swear I was about to go check out the whisky bar- right after I laid down for a minute. Can you guess how that decision ended?
Luckily, I was able to drag myself out of bed on the last night for a quick whisky tasting before dinner and it was well worth skipping my nap!
All meals are provided by the hotel on this trip. Service was quite slow in general, so we learned to come to breakfast ready to head right out on the trails. I was petrified of having stomach issues on the long rides, so I skipped coffee and had a pretty dry breakfast to be safe- but I can highly recommend the fresh juices.
Lunch was a selection of wrapped sandwiches, chips, and an apple provided by the hotel. Obviously I shared my apple with Eddie. We also stuffed our saddle bags full of granola bars and sweets for quick energy boosts on the ride.
Dinner again was slow- almost hilariously so- but at least it gave us more time to hang out as a group! It was a little tricky for me to avoid dairy and beef here, but I made it work. I’m not sure that vegans would be able to manage here unless the hotel prepared special meals for them in advance.
I loved being able to see our horses grazing in the field outside as we ate our own dinners.
Value
With the understanding that I would book this trip again in a heartbeat, it felt a tad expensive in the moment.
This trip worked out to be nearly 800 USD per night which is comparable to a an upscale all-inclusive in Mexico. I’m sure the nightly cost of the 5-star hotel played a role in the overall cost, but it felt difficult to appreciate that fact since we were so rarely in our rooms.
I was also personally aggrieved that I had to bring my own riding helmet. I imagine it’s a safety concern, but it was such a pain to haul around with me during my extended visit to the country.
Objectively however, it’s easy to see why it’s so pricey: it’s an entirely unique experience!
Where else are you going to take a multi-day guided tour through the Scottish Highlands with someone who knows the trails and the horses like the back of her hand? The horses were stunningly athletic- I’ve been riding for decades and I can’t tell you a single horse that would have been able to manage the trails we took on during my trek.
Each ride also needs to support not only the horses on the trek, but the horses that are on a break, the cost of feed, tack, vet care, the cost of the human’s salary, booking the hotels, and general issues that come up in a business like this.
Although pricey, the cost of the trek covers the training of the horses, the experience of the guide, and most importantly, the experience of a lifetime!
I have been lucky enough to go on so many amazing trips in my lifetime, and this is easily one of my favorites!
Wow, what a fantastic and memorable adventure. Over the years, I’ve visited the Scottish Highlands many times but never on horseback. It looks like a great way to explore the rugged beauty and history of the Highlands. Thanks for sharing, and have a good day 🙂 Aiva xx
It really was such a special experience! Even with the rain, I wouldn’t change a thing!
Such majestic creatures! The horses are nothing short of beautiful, and what a unique way to explore the Highlands. I’d be a bit apprehensive on horseback, as I haven’t ridden in years, but it looks like you had a wonderful time!
It’s definitely a once in a life time kind of trip and a great way to experience the highlands!
Wow what a landscape to trek through on horseback, such a special experience!
It’s definitely one of my favorite trips! Such an incredible experience