Adventure | Healing | Connection
We promote adventure and wellbeing through the power of the horse
The Big Hoof journeys support charities with a focus on mental health, wellbeing & child welfare. We have raised over £98,000 for charities in UK and Europe, and have travelled over 6,000 km in 5 different countries.
We promote and discover routes new & old, encouraging accessibility, community & sustainability. In 2025 we made our way around Loch Tay, raising £5,000 for Alzheimer's Research UK. Join a 2025/26 journey and help make a difference.
The Big Hoof is a Scottish charity that organises long-distance treks, with horses at its heart and a clear focus on mental health: Free and accessible to everyone.
Our aim is to improve mental wellbeing by inviting and inspiring people to go outdoors, using the horse as a vehicle for connection.
Our first 2026 journey has been announced: The Lakes, Cumbria
From 4-11 June 2026 we will be making our way 70 miles across the Lake District, Cumbria. From Egremont in the North West, to Sizergh in the South East. Get ready for castles, viking settlements, a halfway ceilidh, beach rides, swimming in rivers, local pubs, drovers’ roads, and more! Come for a day, an afternoon or the whole thing. NO riding experience necessary - just a sturdy pair of shoes and a willingness to do good. The journey is being made in aid of Growing Well. MORE INFO COMING SOON, but for now, express your interest.
Christmas shopping
‘In Green’ is out now
The 111 day and 1,800 mile journey written by Louis D Hall, founder of The Big Hoof
Get your signed, discounted copy for just £12. All profits go to The Big Hoof
2025 journeys… complete!
The May Journey across Fife
With 7 horses and 14 people, we travelled the whole way along the Fife coastline in collaboration with the nationwide Beach of Dreams. To celebrate the importance of the British coastline, we went from Kincardine Bridge to the historic West Sands of St Andrews, along the Fife Coastal Path. Roughly 10 miles a day, we camped at lovely farms, visited the great pubs and swam in the sea. Now it’s time to rest! More info, testimonials and pictures coming soon…
The Loch Tay Journey for Alzheimer’s Research UK
On the bright and cold morning of 28 March, 16 humans, 6 horses and 2 dogs set off from Tombreck Community Farm and headed into the hills! On this short but very sweet three day trip, we journeyed around the east end of Loch Tay, raising more than £3,000 for the Alzheimers Research UK.
Every year we travel 200 miles in the UK for a given cause. The FareWays journeys are wild, inclusive and travel through the most unchartered parts of the UK. Have a listen to the BBC Radio 4 short documentary about our 2023 trip across Scotland.
“Today's biggest mental health issue is to
"feel alone". If I was a doctor, I would prescribe everyone to walk with their neighbour...”
— Tristan, 2024 Fareways participant
In Other News
BBC Radio 4 ‘Highlands With Horses’
Wondering what a Big Hoof journey is really like? Listen to journalist and anthropologist Mary-Ann Ochota’s ‘Open Country’ piece as she joined us on our recent ride across Scotland.
Workshops and talks
Throughout the year both Louis and Kiki give talks, workshops and host events in the UK and the Netherlands. Recently Kiki spoke gave the opening lecture for the yearly AAI Symposium [Animal Assisted Intervention] at the University of Applied Sciences in Dronten (NL). In the autumn of 2025 Louis gave 12 talks throughout the country on The Big Hoof and In Green (including the Royal Geographical Society, Wilderness Lectures, Scottish Royal Geographical Society and the Kendal Mountain Festival). The Big Hoof team provide creative writing workshops too - aimed to encourage children to create and be inspired by the outdoors. Feel free to contact us if you are keen to collaborate or would like us to provide a talk.
Read more about Big Hoof Talks here
The Big Hoof is currently supporting Insulate Ukraine
After spending three weeks in Izyum, in the Kharkiv Oblast of eastern Ukraine, The Big Hoof have teamed up with NGO Insulate Ukraine. This UK based organisation has pioneered a glassless solution to one of the greatest issues faced by the devastated communities of eastern Ukraine: windows blown out by the war. emergency home-built solutions to replace windows blown out by the war.
Branching Out Sessions
Since 2024 The Big Hoof have been providing workshops and day sessions for groups in and around the Fife area. In particular, we collaborate with the Fife Coast and Countryside Trust. These ‘Branching Out’ sessions are part of an outdoor activities programme for women and men experiencing mental health challenges. Not only do groups come to the farm to spend time around the horses (feeding them, grooming, tacking up, learning to ride), but we also venture into the garden. In the summer we make pesto from wild garlic, light bonfires and enjoy marshmallows and hot chocolate! In the autumn we pick the fallen apples, prune the grapevine and make apple and grape juice. These gentle days are a wonderful way to connect with nature and the peaceful energy of horses.
There were smiles all round as they slowly moved around on horseback. The group then got up close, brushed their coats, and cleaned out their hooves…. a truly magnificent session with these amazing animals.’
