Ride Leisure

The leisure centre at Ride, just outside St. Neots, is one of those places you'd walk past and wonder what goes on behind the gates. What goes on is riding - proper equestrian activities if you're into horses, which makes it a solid option if you're staying at one of the nearby caravan parks and your family has any interest in the saddle.

The setup is straightforward: you've got riding lessons, hacking, and schooling facilities. It's the kind of place where experienced riders can get a decent hack across the Cambridgeshire countryside, or absolute beginners can have their first go without feeling out of place. Kids usually take to it immediately - there's something about being on a horse that shifts their mood from grumpy to genuinely engaged.

If you're camped at St. Neots Camping and Caravanning Club Site just 1.2 miles away, or further out at Cambridgeshire Lakes, this is genuinely convenient for a morning or afternoon activity. You don't need the whole day - two or three hours covers a proper session without anyone getting saddle-sore.

Bit of a heads up: phone ahead to check what's running when you visit and what they charge. Riding centres aren't always staffed at weekends or during school holidays when you'd think they'd be busiest. It's worth the detour if horses are on the agenda, though - beats driving an hour to find alternatives. Not a rainy-day option, obviously.