White Horse Gypsy Caravans
White Horse Gypsy Caravans
5
About
For the past thirty years, we have offered wonderful relaxing, get-away-from-it-all, three-night breaks in the picturesque surroundings of the Pewsey Vale.
Marlborough, Wiltshire, England
Meets animal welfare guidelines

Awards
Travellers' Choice
2023

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(12 reviews)
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

5.0
5.0 of 5 bubbles96 reviews
Excellent
91
Very good
3
Average
0
Poor
1
Terrible
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Katherine F
Paris, France7 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023 • Family
Our 3 night trip to Wiltshire was a very special experience. There is no other place in the country where you can drive your own horse down country lanes and experience the world at a slower pace. We took our three children (5,4,2) and despite the caravan being small it was well kitted out, and everyone slept pretty well considering. We benefited from our children all being very used to horses. The route is planned meticulously with an eye to safety and making it a relaxing experience and the horses are AMAZING and well cared for. If you are looking for a unique experience and are someone who is used to being with horses, have an adventurous spirit and can just roll with it - this is the holiday for you. It is not 5 star Glamping, it's more akin to camping, but it is a truly unique experience that Polly has been offering for decades that is very special and will stay in my and the kids memories forever.
Written November 8, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Melissa
4 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2023 • Couples
I've thought long and hard about posting this review, as I know Polly prides herself on her 5* reviews.
We were one of 2 caravans to head off in one of the last outings of 2023. The trip was a big birthday gift from my partner and it was something I had wanted to do for a long time.
There were many positives about the trip. The experience of travelling the wonderful Wiltshire countryside by gypsy caravan, the wonderful and diverse stops, the company of the groups, the quiet confidence of our horse Ned.
However, this was an expensive break and there are certainly areas to be improved. I had expected a rustic, back to basics experience. However, our caravan (the Blue one) was smaller than the other, the lighting was poor (making it nearly impossible to do anything after dark) and the caravan needed a lot of maintenance. The steps to our caravan were rotten and broken, the strut under the bed had broken (making for a poor night's sleep) and tealights had rusted through , so lighted candles fell to the floor.
Whilst the use of Polly's shared bathroom was welcomed, it was very cluttered with Polly and her lodgers personal effects.
When we stopped at the camp, the outdoor shower did not work. I did not mind, but it meant we had to have flannel washes and clean our teeth in pub bathrooms.
Other reviewers state how they enjoy full fry ups with the cooking facilities. They are certainly more adept campers than we were. Boiling a kettle of water was all we could do.
I really enjoyed the gypsy travelling. There could have been more of this as there was only 3 relatively short journeys during the trip. But would I return - not for an overnight stay. The trip could have been better with more maintenance of the caravan. I understand maintenance will take place over the winter. However it should take place all year around.
On the last night, darkness fell. I couldn't read my book and I just wanted my bed. Being only an hour from home, we packed up early. The other couple had already left a night early too.
Like I said, an amazing experience overall.
Written October 19, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Val D
38 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2023 • Couples
Brilliant trip, three days in the cosy caravan, two days with fabulous grooms Ruth and Fiona. Warm welcome from lovely Polly.
Best part of trip was meeting our gypsy cob Ned who is such a good and gentle boy. Lovely wandering through Wiltshire lanes. Can recommend.
Written September 30, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Janice W
Cornwall, UK39 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2023 • Couples
Just finished a fabulous mid week break with White Horse Gypsy Caravans . What can I say ! I was a bit worried at first as we are an elderly couple and I have challenging mobility issues but it was on my bucket list so we went for it ! We were both delighted with every aspect of the holiday . Polly and her staff were very welcoming and helpful and made me feel very safe and as comfortable as possible . Getting up onto the wagon was a bit of an issue but a set of steps and some disability grips and handles sorted that out ! It was so worth the effort . Dan our horse was a truly inspiring boy . So well tempered and attentive he listened carefully to voice commands and made sure he got us from stop to stop safely. The grooms were amazing and it was obvious how much Polly and her staff love their horses . Each one is groomed and sponged before every trip and given a good rub down after their harness is removed, They are sponged down and brushed again after every work session . The horses love to work and are only asked to pull a wagon for an hour or 90 minutes at a time and are given a good rest and feed before moving on again . They are calm and friendly and even welcomed my three little dogs company when work finished . My dogs loved the experience as much as us and sat so quietly while we were travelling enjoying the slow clip clop and the sights of the country ! Would definitely recommend this experience to anyone considering a special and different mini break . Thank you all , we enjoyed it so much !
Written September 28, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Amanda S
9 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023 • Family
What a magical trip!
My daughter’s (13,9) and I had a magical trip in this little gypsy wagon. It was a dream come true to trot through the beautiful lanes of the ‘shire’ with a horse and wagon. We would highly recommend this experience.
Polly, the owner, is an extremely thoughtful and experienced host. She made everything run smoothly. We felt like part of the family from the moment we arrived. My daughters loved Button and Bobbin her dogs too. The horse was gorgeous and very well behaved. We got to brush him and feed him apples.
We had wonderful support on the journey with various experience ‘horse hands’ who were all absolutely lovely to chat with. We felt we learned how to drive the wagon and had ample time in the road, as well as camped stationary in stunning natural surroundings.
My daughters enjoyed painting watercolours of the horses, toasting marshmallows and collecting blackberries. I side the pretty wagon, there was all we needed to make simple meals and feel comfy.
We would definitely return. This was a heart warning and inspirational trip. I’m very grateful to have been able to experience this. Thanks Polly and all the gang.
Written August 27, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jane L
2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023 • Couples
Wow! This experience was very special. My husband and I, in our sixties, wanted to experience a holiday that involved horses. We have zero experience of horses! This short break was ideal. We got to spend time with the Gypsy Cob - Ned, who is so laid back and sweet natured, he was the ideal match for us. Polly is a lovely lady, very friendly and laid back herself, and she really does look after and know her horses. To be left alone with Ned overnight, us in the caravan and Ned in the field, is an experience we'll never forget. Thank you Polly and your team of grooms, you all do an amazing job.
Written August 18, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Ellen L
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2023 • Family
I booked this trip after the death of a close friends to get a much needed mental health break. Polly was a most welcoming host and her knowledge of local history and the local area as well as her love for all of her animals was very apparent. After our first night in our gypsy caravan we were met by Ruth our groom and Ned, the most gentle, slightly cheeky and calm horse you could ever hope to meet, Ruth was very patient explaining the grooming, tacking procedures and once Ned was positioned in front of the caravan we proceeded on our route. Just over an hour to the first stop for lunch, and a sponge bath and grazing and grooming break for Ned. After the lunch break we continue for another trip of just over an hour to our next destination a very lush grazing field where with the help of our groom Ruth, Ned was properly cooled down and fed and brushed after which he had a seizable field in which to roam or join us at the campfire circle if he so chooses. He often graced us with his presence but all of it was on his terms. The next day after a campfire breakfast and a morning relaxing, Polly, Ruth and Maria came and helped us tack up Ned, after making sure he had been properly groomed and after another trip of just over an hour we were back at our final destination. All that was left to do was give Ned a final sponge bath before the inevitable goodbye. At no point during this entire trip have I had the slightly hesitation or inkling that the horses were not up to the task of performing something they were bred to do or didn’t want to carry out the task that was ahead of them and I have no hesitation of recommending Polly and white horse gypsy caravans to anyone who would like a complete break from modern life for a day or two.
Written July 5, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Fidj
8 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2023
A busman's holiday

As two very experienced (of over 50 years) horsey people, we decided to change things up this year and forego our trail riding break and take the pace down with a visit to Whitehorse Gypsy Caravans, we read the reviews and decided it was the right trip for us.

It was very disappointing to see a very recent review questioning the care and welfare of the White Horse Gypsy Caravan’s ponies, it is very clear that they are loved and well cared for.

There could be no one more aware than us about the setup of the holiday or the care and workload of the Ponies.

The caravan was the right fit, weight, and balance for our lovely Pony Ned. He had the correct driving harness; it was a perfect for him and the caravan he was pulling. Although one could easily have thought that the van was heavy and a dead weight, it was light and manoeuvrable and perfectly balanced for Ned to pull with ease.

Ned was in excellent condition, it's so nice to see ponies that are at optimal weight and fitness for the job in hand; truly fit and healthy. We picked Ned up from his field, as we were helping due to a mini staffing crisis. Polly's ponies had just finished their breakfast, an important part of their working diet; another example of Polly's care and attention to her pony’s welfare. Ned was well shod and had road nails in as a safety measure for him and prevent him slipping.

What a perfect start to a holiday; ticks in all boxes for welfare, safety and equipment.

After grooming and tacking up Ned, backing up into the traces and connecting harness to the van , followed by a double check of breaching, traces, bridle, saddle and reins by our wonderful groom Jane, we set off and were underway.

The weather was pleasantly warm, and we asked Jane what the extreme hot weather protocol was for the ponies and the simple answer was the cancellation and rescheduling of trips, we would not have entertained less if was the case for our trip.

Ned was a star, he worked hard to give us a lovely trip, 48 hours enjoyment for us and the and 3.5 hours graft for Ned, what a lovely and purposeful life for him. He did get a sweat on, as to be expected, and is perfectly normal for a good fit pony, his rewards a few buckets of cold water a great big sponge to wash him down, and to help him cool down, more than few treats and field full of grass. Then a good rest after his couple of hours road trip before returning home 24 hours later, and like most ponies, he was keen and glad to get there.

It was so nice to bring joy to people as we passed them, lovely comments and smiles and lots of love for Ned, their appreciation of the chance to step back in time to a place where the pace meant travelling at 4 miles an hour, combined with modern day safety systems and horse welfare, a perfect combination. Thank you, Polly, Jane, Ruth and of course Ned.
Written July 5, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Liz W
3 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2023 • Couples
I booked this as a surprise birthday getaway for my partner and we both thoroughly enjoyed it- even though my partner doesn't 'do' horses (despite us having our own!). We warmly greeted by Polly on the first evening, and she had booked us a table at the local pub- where we had a great meal.
The next morning, we were helped to tack up our pony for the few days- Ned. These horses (we had visited them in their field the night before)are clearly well loved and cared for, and we were encouraged to be as involved as much or as little as we wanted. After an hour or so at a gentle pace we had a great pub lunch while Ned grazed and then moved onto our next stop.
This was my favourite part of the holiday- a lovely private corner lit up by fairy lights, surrounded by trees and a brook and peace and quiet, birds and Ned. We had the option of a fire pit to cook on or the pub down the road. We then had the morning to relax, go to local garden centre and cafes and explore (there is a crop circle museum just down the road). We set off again in the afternoon towards Polly's for our final night.
I'd like to reiterate that horse welfare was paramount through out the holiday- a gentle leisurely pace of an hour or so at a time, with us walking alongside whilst travelling uphill meant I had no concerns over Ned's capabilities, and we had a groom with us at all times to make sure he was ok. Having had my own horses for years, I would thoroughly recommend this small company, it is lovely to see horses doing a proper job that they were bred for. Thank you for a lovely holiday Polly!
Written July 3, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

FrequentFlier597550
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2023 • Family
Me and my family went on this holiday earlier this year and loved it!! The horses and Polly were so kind. The horses are cared for amazingly and you feel attached to them straight away as they are so gentle. I would 100% recommend.
Written July 3, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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White Horse Gypsy Caravans - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)