RIDERS on the Bere Peninsula can take the opportunity to enjoy a new horseback experience this year, thanks to a partnership between Bere Horsewatch Riding Club and the Tamar Valley AONB Service.

Two woodlands owned by Tavistock Woodland Estate have been linked to create a circular route of around six miles incorporating quiet lanes, existing rights of way and some previously inaccessible tracts of woodland. As part of the Bere Horsewatch Project, new gates and signs have also been erected and a special lock and key system implemented.

Cllr Gretta Madigan, a member of Bere Horsewatch Riding Club, said: ?As a user I am extremely grateful to the Tamar Valley AONB Service for organising this opportunity to ride off the roads. It is beautiful woodland to ride in and it is marvellous to feel safe and be away from traffic.?

Cllr Madigan said that as a member of Devon County Council, she had been investigating how landowners could diversify and ways in which they could receive payment for use of their land by horse riders.

?This is an opportunity to test how well it works, and may lead to other routes being set up,? said Cllr Madigan, who said she would like to hear from any interested in this type of project.

Tamar Valley AONB Service was approached by the riding club last year to look into the feasibility of securing permissive access to allow safe, off-road riding ? the Bere Horsewatch Project is the result of lengthy planning and negotiations by the partners involved.

Stephen Russell, project officer for the Tamar Valley AONB Service, said: ?It has taken a while to sort out the intricacies of the project, such as ensuring that the recreational use doesn?t conflict with forestry operations, but with the scheme now in place and working, it is a great opportunity for safe riding in a beautiful location.

?Access to the woodland is strictly by permit only and there is a code of conduct that all riders must follow. If this scheme continues to work well, we may be able to gain access to other, currently inaccessible, areas of woodland.?

The Bere Horsewatch Project is set to run until September, at which point a new access agreement will need to be negotiated.

Helen Silcocks, riding club membership secretary, said permits are only available to members of the Bere Horsewatch Riding Club ? but are free once riders have joined the club. There is just a £1 deposit for the key to unlock padlocks on three gates within the route.

She said membership of the club has gone up by 25% since the route opened.

?We are promoting it quite heavily,? said Helen. ?It gives us some very good off-road riding here, which unless you are prepared to hack a long way to the moors, you haven?t got.

?Also we will have to finance being able to ride there next year, so the more members we have, the better.?

Membership of the club also gives riders access to a variety of social events and organised rides, said Helen.

Anyone interested in joining the Bere Horsewatch Riding Club and enjoying a beautiful new off-road riding circuit should contact Helen Silcocks on 01822 841005. Membership costs £15 a year for new members, £10 renewal for existing members.

Anyone wishing to contact Cllr Gretta Madigan about off-road riding projects should call 01822 840081.