A couple of weeks ago we had a fantastic weekend in the country in the pretty rural hamlet of Santiago del Teide.
Set in a gorgeous valley about 800 metres above sea level, bordered to the north by pine forests, to the east by Mount Teide and Pico Viejo, to the west by the Masca mountains and to the south by the spiralling descent to Tamaimo and Los Gigantes, this little village is one of Tenerife’s most picturesque.
Ironically, although thousands of people pass through it en route to Masca, very few of them leave their cars and tour buses to explore Santiago del Teide, and the handful who do head straight for the life-sized model of a horse which is harnessed to a trap, on the terrace of the Chinyero restaurant at the western end of the village.
But with the opening of the Señorio del Valle Visitor Centre and rural hotel, that may be about to change because now visitors can upgrade from Chinyero’s wonky plastic horse and experience a ride in a real horse and trap.
Stabled behind the Señorio del Valle Rural Hotel, a selection of beautiful horses are now available for horse riding and along with one very cute Shetland pony, offer pony and trap rides through the village, around the grounds of the Visitor Centre and to the neighbouring hamlet of Valle de Arriba.
Sitting in the shade of the trees at the kiosk cafe of the picnic zone opposite the church, it was magical to hear the clip clop of hooves and the swish of the wheels of the trap as another delighted passenger was taken through the village.
If there’s one thing about the past that I would happily re-instate if I was Mayoress of the World, it would be travel by pony and trap. There’s just something so romantic about that mode of transport and for me it conjures up images of Jane Austen heroes and heroines and Sherlock Holmes adventures.
So if you fancy taking to the saddle to explore some of the beautiful forest trails around Santiago del Teide, or you happen to be heading into Masca any time, make a point of stopping off at the Señorio del Valle Visitor Centre and enjoy the peace,tranquillity and beauty of the village the old fashioned way.
Riding lessons are €8 for ½ an hour and €16 for an hour
Riding is €30 an hour, €60 for 2 hours
Pony & trap rides are from €1 to €10 depending on time and distance.
Real Tenerife 