Local And National Press Coverage

Below are some of the articles that have been written about Murthwaite Green by reporters and visitors who have come along on Press Visits to see our centre and experience our unique riding opportunities:

The Gazette (Blackpool)
August 2007

Idyllic action where land and sea meet by Roy Edmunds The riding centre is on the outskirts of Silecroft at a former farm. Proprietor Cath Wrigley and husband Phil, both originally from Manchester are delighted with their progress in so few years. The farmhouse and attractive gardens abut an 18th century barn adapted into stables and extended to enclose a newly block paved yard adjoining an all weather arena with grazing and fields beyond. Cath's enthusiastic staff all have equestrian tourism qualifications as well as extensive riding and first aid training. Nothing, it seems, is too much trouble - they do all they can to help you enjoy your visit. Prices compare favourably with elsewhere and standards of care are high at the British Horse Society Approved Centre. The horses and ponies are mainly the steady and sturdy cob types, all schooled to be well mannered and sensible while providing all levels of rider with a good hack. Our first outing was to the beach. The groups are kept small and rarely number more than six riders. After a short walk through the village we had two carefully controlled canters on the beach. Following a year's absence this was a tense experience but the steady Joe put me at ease. It was, as they say, like riding an armchair. The more experienced riders, including myself as I'd gained in confidence, then turned for a gallop home on the wide, unblemished sands. There was no time for niceties, no riding to trot, just a full-blooded gallop to blow away our final cobwebs. If you haven't experienced riding beside the surf go to Murthwaite Green - it's unforgettable!

The Times Online
May 2007

Seahorses in Cumbria
Horseriding at the seaside is nothing like plodding around a paddock, says an exhilarated Gavin Bell on the coast at Silecroft. Horses do like to be beside the seaside. It’s hardly surprising – most riding school horses spend their working lives trudging around the same old paddocks or familiar trails, waiting patiently to be led back to their stables for a well earned rest.

But give them a beach as far as the eyes can see, the tang of the sea and a fresh onshore breeze, and it’s a different story. The ears prick up, the tails switch, and it’s no longer how to get them going but how to get them to stop.

So I was happy to be assured by a stable lass at the Murthwaite Green Trekking Centre in Cumbria that my cob Joe was a fairly placid big fellow. He’ll be happy to go off at a canter if you like, but shorten the reins and pull him in and he’ll slow down no problem, she said. We tried this in the paddock and it worked, so off we went at a steady walk with four other riders and a couple of instructors.

The centre lies in the coastal hamlet of Silecroft, where the Lake District National Park runs down to the Irish Sea. It is a quiet place with no through traffic, and so ideal for a leisurely start to our ride.

The beach was barely a mile away, and it seemed to go on forever. A stony foreshore gave way to tidal sands and the steely shimmer of the sea, and there was hardly anybody to be seen. On the landward side there were four houses, a handful of wooden shacks, and one ice cream van doing a slow trade with small huddles of day trippers sheltering behind wind breaks.

The essential thrill of horse riding by the sea is a bit like being on the sea in a sailing boat – a sense of freedom in a natural environment, with no limitations other than those of your horse or your boat. Both require a measure of poise and confidence, with a dash of devil may care attitude. Throw in exhilaration, wind in your hair, and the controlled power of a cantering horse or billowing sail and you have the general picture.

Joe was as good as the stable lass’s word, slowing to a trot and a walk when asked to, and picking up speed again when given the go-ahead. In the far distance, people by the shore were reduced to Lilliputian figures in a hazy dream world, matchstick men and women who shimmered in the heat like mirages. Among them terns, oyster-catchers and ringed plovers busied themselves on nesting and breeding duties, scraping the shingle over their camouflaged eggs.

The ride itself was enjoyable, even for novices in our group. John Walton, an estate agent from Surrey, and his wife Lynne had come along to accompany their 11-year-old daughter who had been riding for a couple of years.

Their experience amounted to a couple of days, and they were pleased with their progress. “It’s fun for beginners, and they’ve been very patient with us,” said John. Lynn considered the picnic ride good value, as it was the same price as a one-hour lesson for her daughter at home.

Joe clearly enjoyed it, picnic or not. It beats slouching around a muddy paddock any day.

Your Horse
Jan 2007

Want to gallop along the beach.....
At Murthwaite Green Trekking Centre in Silecroft on the Cumbrian Coast, beach rides are a speciality. You can enjoy a weekends break or a full week's stay. While you're there, take one of the horses for a paddle in the shallow waters or enjoy a long gallop along five miles of golden sands.

North West Evening Mail
Nov 2006

Horse trek business on right track for tourists
A unique mixture of hoofs and surf is being hailed a huge success by tourism bosses. The North West Farm Tourism Initiative, part of Cumbria Tourism, has commended Murthwaite Green Trekking Centre for encouraging tourists into Copeland by offering a unique holiday experience. The Silecroft based business has been offering beach horse riding across five miles of golden sands and shallow waters at Silecroft Beach. Murthwaite Green Trekking Centre is doing really well and anything that brings tourists into the area is good for Cumbria

Yorkshire Post Today
Nov 2006

A fresh meaning to riding the surf
A tourist initiative is celebrating the attraction of horses and surf. Murthwaite Green specialises in riding the surf. The venture has been voted a huge success by North West Tourism Initiative. Beach riding is something many people have never experienced and the beautiful Cumbrian location makes it even more memorable. The centre caters for all abilities with trained staff able to lead children or nervous riders.

Huddersfield Daily Examiner
Oct 2006

Life's such a beach! Great day out riding.
I was lucky enough to be invited on a break in the western Lake District to go on a beach ride at Murthwaite Green. Like many riders, I've always wanted to gallop along the beach, so I jumped at the chance. We arrived at Murthwaite Green to a tidy and well maintained yard. I was given a lovely coloured gelding called Tom and my friend was given Jazz, a chestnut welsh cob. We were given an assessment lesson before we set off. We were then accompanied by Linda Burnett, the ride leader, who proved to be a great guide and entertained us with funny stories about the horses along the way. When we got to the beach Linda asked us how fast we wanted to go - we chose fast and had several great gallops along the beach. The horses were lovely and responsive and the beach seemed to go on forever, which was great because we didn't want the ride to end.

North East Evening Gazette
Sep 2006

Short breaks
There are few places in the UK where you can truly get away from it all. But Cumbria's Western Lake District remains unspoiled by the less attractive effects of commercial tourism. Our host Murthwaite Green Trekking Centre is extremely sensible in its choice of horses, and its professionalism is further reflected in its competent and friendly staff. We had fun cantering through the waves and the beach part of the ride was instantly memorable. The second half of the ride saw us climb up into the fells accompanied by inquisitive sheep and the odd bird of prey. It marked the end to what was a wonderful break. I'm just looking for an excuse to go back.

Etihad in Flight
June 2006

Horse Play Hidden away in England's northwest , the mirrored waters of the Lake District have long cast their spell on all who visit. From misty tarns to shady woodlands and lonely beaches, explore England's last untamed corner on horseback. Anyone who seeks the simple pleasure of spending time with horses will relish a horse riding holiday, especially in a location as arresting as Cumbria. Murthwaite Green Trekking Centre offers lessons, trekking and riding holidays to anyone wanting to explore this corner of the Lake District on Horseback. The holidays are tailored to suit each individuals age and ability, taking into account whether they want to focus on improving their riding skills or simply venturing out into the surrounding countryside or the fantastic beach. The horses at Murthwaite range in size, age and personality. However, most are solid young cob types with even temprements who are steady with novice or nervous riders but spirited enough to keep advanced riders well entertained. It is easy to see why people have been coming to Cumbria's fells for centuries. The region has long been the inspiration for poets. However, riding a horse through the country lanes, undulating hills and never ending beaches of the Western Lake District is a unique and truly unforgettable experience.

North West Evening Mail
Feb 2006

Pony trekking centre scoops top Cumbria tourism prize
The Lady Inglewood Award for Excellence in Tourism Training went to Cath Wrigley who runs Murthwaite Green Trekking Centre in Silecroft. The judges were impressed by the centre's professional and structured approach to training and development, which was linked clearly to business objectives. The judges said that Cath is dedicated to bringing through a new generation of qualified staff to the ultimate benefit of her customers. This is the second major award that Cath has won in recent times. She was named Business Woman of the Year in Cumbria 2004.

Blackpool Today
Nov 2006

Horse power in the beautiful Lake District
There are pony rides and then there is a beach gallop. Comparing the two is like anticipating a game of rounders and wandering instead onto an Ashes Test Match pitch. It is all a question of horsepower and in one quiet corner of the Lake District National Park they have it in bucketloads. We had been on rides through the Lakes before, however, nothing prepares you for a full-blooded gallop along five miles of open beach. Rides are accompanied by fully qualified and friendly escorts and the centre is approved by both bodies for training, assessment and examination. What's more, rides are excellent value! Murthwaite Greens maintains the best of standards in horse care, health and safety and instruction. All horses, mainly cob types are well mannered and sensible.