Black Isle Walking With Horses

You'll find this horse-trekking outfit on the Black Isle, a surprisingly rural pocket of land north of Dingwall that feels properly isolated despite being minutes from civilisation. Walking With Horses does exactly what it says - you get paired with a horse and head out into the Highland landscape, no experience necessary. The rides vary in length and difficulty, so whether you're after a gentle amble suitable for kids or something more adventurous, they'll sort you out.

The Black Isle itself is gorgeous for it - moorland, woodland, quiet roads, and the kind of light you only get in Scotland. You're riding through actual countryside rather than a manicured trail, which makes it feel genuine. The outfit caters well to first-timers; staff are patient and the horses are calm enough that nervous riders won't spend the whole time gripping the reins in panic.

Timing-wise, allow at least two hours door-to-door, longer if you book one of their extended rides. It's not cheap, but horse trekking rarely is. Worth doing as a break from camping rather than the main event of your trip - though it pairs nicely with a stay at Dingwall Camping and Caravanning Club Site just down the road, or Blackrock Caravan Park if you prefer something slightly more upmarket.

Go in autumn or spring for the best weather. Summer can be midgey, and winter's muddy. Fair warning: if you've never ridden before, you'll ache the next day. That's rather the point.