‘The Great Dartmoor Cattle Drives’
‘The Only Cattle Drive in the UK’
At Meldon we have always used horses to move our cattle to their grazing areas on Dartmoor.
We ride western on Quarter horses for thier quiet easy going nature along with their agility and turn of speed needed for any uncooperative ones.
Driving Cattle
Move, muster and check cattle
Become a cowboy for a few days!
‘The fastest way to move cattle is slowly!’
Cattle respond well to being moved by horses. Horses are quiet and the cattle are used to being moved by them, the cattle are not threatened but have a natural respect for the horse. The horse walks at much the same speed as the cattle and often anticipate the cattle movements. The riders work as a team with most flanking at the sides of the herd with just a couple at the rear, and one or two at the head. Each rider will have a position and a job to do, depending on their ability.
There is always a lead cow she is usually an older matriach cow. Each spring, the young calves go out with their mothers to learn their grazing areas, where the water is and where to return home to. On Dartmoor the herds grazzing area is called their ‘lear’, and each owners herd of cattle will have it’s own ‘lear’.
Moving cattle is not fast and there’ll be little galloping, however you will need to be able to ride over challenging terrain and be able to independantly.
Breathtaking scenery and views
Driving cattle is immensely satisfying, doing something that has barely changed for hundreds of years. The type of country we ride over has some breathtaking scenery and varies, through woodland, along valley bottoms, up steep inclines, down steep declines, across rivers, through rock clitter (rock strewn areas) and over hill tops, where you can look down on everything around.
Booking terms for 2025:
Non-refundable deposit of 20% at time of booking. The balance will be due a month before the trip.
Cancellation policy:
If you have to cancel your 2025 trip, for whatever reason, any payments made can be used against another trip in 2025 or 2026 only, subject to availability.
OR
A full refund, less the deposit.
n.b. Payments are not transferable.
2025 Dates & Rates
6 nights (Sun – Sat)
All options are on a half board basis, breakfast and lunch are included, as well as after riding tea/cakes etc. We don’t do an evening meal, the hotel has an excellent restaurant or there are many local eateries nearby.
Hotel option:
£2,040pp based on 2 sharing
£2,230 for single occupancy
‘Glamping’ option:
Limited numbers;
(see ‘Accommodation’ page)
£1,840 per person
4th – 10th May ***Fully booked***
This trip includes a very long day driving cattle of approx 7 hrs
15th – 21st June ***Fully booked***
13th – 19th July ***Fully booked***
3rd – 9th August ***2 places available***
14th – 20th September ***Fully booked***
This trip includes a very long day driving cattle of approx 7 hrs
3 nights (Sun – Wed pm)
Arrive pm/evening first day, depart after riding (5.00pm) on final day. Extra night B&B £80pp (shared room) £110pp (single occupancy)
29th April – 2nd May (Tues – Fri) ***Fully booked***
20th – 23rd July (Sun – Wed) ***Fully booked***
28th Sept – 1st Oct (Sun – Wed) ***Fully booked***
2026 Dates & Rates
6 nights (Sun – Sat)
All options are on a half board basis, breakfast and lunch are included, as well as after riding tea/cakes etc. We don’t do an evening meal, the hotel has an excellent restaurant or there are many local eateries nearby.
Hotel option:
£2,350pp based on 2 sharing
£2,700 for single occupancy
‘Glamping’ option:
Limited numbers;
(see ‘Accommodation’ page)
£2,100 per person
3rd – 9th May
This trip includes a very long day driving cattle of approx 7 hrs
14th – 20th June
12th – 18th July
2nd – 8th August
13th – 19th September
This trip includes a very long day driving cattle of approx 7 hrs
4 nights, (Sun eve – Thurs am)
Hotel option:
£1,600 based on 2 sharing
£1740 for single occupancy
‘Glamping’ option:
Limited numbers;
(see ‘Accommodation’ page)
£1350 per person
Arrive pm/evening first day, depart am on the final day. 3 days riding.
27th April – 1st May (Mon – Fri)
19th – 23rd July (Sun – Thurs)
27th Sept – 1st Oct (Sun – Thurs)
More 4 night options may be added at a later date
Our Cattle Driving Year
May: ‘Spring cattle turn-out’
The cows and autumn born calves are moved from their winter quarters up on to the moor for the summer, a distance of about 8km.
June: ‘Bulling cow muster’
Some spring calving cows need to be brought down to the farm to run with the bull for the summer.
July: ‘Calf weaning muster’
The cows and calves need to be brought back to the farm for weaning
August: ‘Calving cow gather’
The cows are due to calve so are brouht nearer the farm.
Sept: ‘Cow & calf muster’
The freshly calved cows need to come down to better grazing near the Farm as winter approaches.
