Tarn Valley, France
Reviews
“...excellent riding obviously, professional tuition, beautiful scenery, comfortable accommodation, delicious food, and good company...”
Horses
Type of horses:
Selle Francais, Anglo Arab, Crossbreeds and Shetlands.
Nature of horses:
Well schooled and honest.
Height of horses:
14 hh - 16.3 hh
Weight limit:
110kgs for experienced riders.
Tack type:
English
Weather
Current Conditions:
Partly Cloudy, 16 C
Forecast:
Fri - Sunny. High: 27 Low: 15
Sat - Sunny. High: 31 Low: 17
Full Forecast at Yahoo! Weather
(provided by The Weather Channel)
Pricing
Weekly Programme
Price per person for 7 nights includes breakfast, dinner and 10 hours riding:
(Based on two sharing)
14 March-26 June £464
27 June-28 August £489
29 August-13 November £464
(Single Travellers)
14 March-26 June £573
27 June-28 August £623
29 August-13 November £573
(Children under 12)
14 March-26 June £414
27 June-28 August £439
29 August-13 November £414
Price does not include flights or travel insurance.
Long Weekend
Please contact the office for a price to suit your programme.
Availability/Booking Form
Ride Description
Tarn Valley is a fabulous destination for those wishing to experience a lovely part of France. This is a certified riding school with excellent facilities, top class tuition from a truly experienced horseman and charming countryside on the doorstep. If you've never ridden before then this is the perfect place to start - the instructor, Fabrice, is knowledgeable in a number of riding disciplines including dressage, show jumping and endurance racing. He speaks fluent English and will also teach you how to play Horse Ball - a cross between basketball and rugby played on horseback.
The surrounding scenery makes for excellent hacking and you can choose to spend your riding hours out exploring the landscapes or in the school taking lessons (or any combination). Even beginner riders get the chance to ride out once they have mastered the basic skills and will enjoy the fields of glorious yellow sunflowers, the lush green valleys and the forests of oak and sweet chestnut. This beautiful region is dominated by the production of roquefort cheese, made in nearby caves using sheep's milk. There are also stunning gorges here where you can see wild boar, deer and even magnificent birds of prey.
There is an array of fabulous horses here, including trusty little shetland ponies who are perfect for those tiny tots. Tarn Valley is a great option for families and the hosts, Nick and Marie Christine, are welcoming to all. Single adults and groups are also wonderfully catered for here and the adult guests can enjoy the scrumptious food and wine available to them. Whether you are a newcomer to riding and looking to learn in the French sunshine, an experienced horseman wanting to improve or a group or family looking for a great time together, you'll find a holiday here to be a truly enjoyable experience.
See Programmes.
Food & Accommodation
Accommodation is in a converted 17th century farmhouse which overlooks a wonderful game reserve with deer and wild boar in the woods and an array of birds of prey wheeling overhead. The views at this destination are absolutely fabulous and the grounds are well kept with lawns and a vegetable garden. There is a swimming pool set in the lovely gardens which proves very popular after riding.
The farmhouse has three double bedrooms and two family suites, all with their own bathroom and WC. All rooms are spacious and comfortable, decorated in house style with wooden floors and regional furniture.
Everyone eats together each evening in the main farmhouse, enjoying sociable four course meals which are accompanied by fine French wines. The food is prepared with fresh local ingredients including vegetables from the garden, plus meat and cheese from the district, reflecting the cuisine in this area. On sunny days, these meals can be enjoyed on the terrace overlooking the gardens.
Activities
A car hire is a good idea if you wish to make the most of this beautiful area. You can then explore the Tarn Valley and the medieval villages nearby. The Toulouse Lautrec museum is within striking distance as too is the cathedral of Albi.
A car hire is a good idea if you wish to make the most of this beautiful area. You can then explore the Tarn Valley and the medieval villages nearby. The Toulouse Lautrec museum is within striking distance and so too is the cathedral of Albi.
Non riders may enjoy wonderful walks and they can also take advantage of the mountain bikes which guests are very welcome to use. There is an outdoor swimming pool where guests may enjoy a quick dip or perhaps just sunbathe with a book. There are plenty of toys for children, TV, and DVD facilities available. There is also a tack shop where gifts can be purchased.
Further Details
Languages: English & French
Health requirements: None
Age limit: None
Tuition: Yes
Included: 10 hours of riding included for half board
Not included: Flights, transfers to and from airport, travel and medical insurance.
Travel Information
The nearest airport is Toulouse and the nearest town is Albi.Travelling to Albi is easy due to the proximity of Toulouse, with its international airport and TGV station. The British Midlands airline bmi have flights into Toulouse from Manchester and from Scotland, and for those wishing to travel from the south of England, cut price airline easyJet have flights to Toulouse from Bristol and Gatwick. Rail travel is another handy way to reach Albi. Take the Eurostar from Waterloo to Paris or Lille, and then catch the TGV fast train to Toulouse. From there you can reach Albi by connecting bus or train.
Taxi transfer costs (to be paid locally):
Albi: 120 euros, per car return.
Toulouse: 300 euros, per car return.
Airport: Toulouse
Programmes
Weekly Programme
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The riding facilities here are fantastic with an indoor and outdoor menage as well as a cross country course. This allows you the flexibility to improve your riding or to enjoy this beautiful countryside. The programme here is very flexible to suit individual requirements. Ten hours of riding is included in the seven-night holiday price, which can be taken as ten 1-hour lessons or five 2-hour hacks, or a combination of the two. Additional riding can be arranged and paid for locally if you want to do more. Please note that schedules are put together at the beginning of each week by the on-site instructors and flexibility of riding arrangements for the individual can be limited during school holidays. During these times one to one lessons are not generally available. On the Sunday after your arrival, the head instructor Fabrice will discuss your aims with you and help you to decide which sessions and hacks to sign up for. Depending on your level and experience, you may decide to start the week with several sessions in the manège, building up your confidence for a couple of short hacks in the second half of the week, or you may want to alternate lessons in the show-jumping arena with longer rides out into the countryside. Fabrice can speak fluent English. He is assisted by Nicolas who guides on the hacks out. Nicolas is local to the area and knows all the best paths to take. You can also sign up for the initiation to horse-ball, a fun form of basketball on horseback. Whatever you decide, the first session is usually in the indoor arena where the instructor will ask you to demonstrate various skills so that he can assess your level accurately and also ensure that you have been paired with the right mount. At the end of each week there is usually a 4-5 hour hack, which you can take as part of your week’s riding or as an additional four/five hours. Please note that for safety reasons, it is always at the discretion of the on-site instructor as to who can ride and when. Children must be 10 years of age or over to book the riding programme, but riding for younger children can sometimes be arranged at the discretion of the instructor during the holiday. It is not possible to confirm riding for under 10s at the time of booking. Between riding sessions, you will find plenty to do. The Centre has an outdoor pool, usually open from June to September or, if the weather is cooler, the cosy lounge is a pleasant place to relax with a book. There are bicycles available for guests’ use if you wish to explore beyond the extensive grounds. |
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| Minimum group size: | 1 |
| Maximum group size: | 12 |
| Ability description: | Beginners to experienced. |
| Type of ride: | Tuition and hacks |
| Total riding time: | 10 hours included |
| Departure dates: | Saturday to Saturday (it may be possible to start on another day during quieter times of the year) |
| Pricing: | See Pricing |
Long Weekend
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We can organise a long weekend or mid week break at this wonderful destinaion with tailor made riding to suit your requirments. This area is fantastic for exploring and is suitable for couples or families. |
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| Minimum group size: | 2 |
| Maximum group size: | 12 |
| Ability description: | All levels of experience |
| Type of ride: | Trail or tuition |
| Total riding time: | 2 hours per day |
| Departure dates: | All year around - flexible dates |
| Pricing: | See Pricing |