A specialist tour operator has set up a rural micro business offering excursions on horse-drawn carriages in Sussex until the longhaul travel market returns.
Jonathan Nye, owner of travelfiveo and a member of the Travel Trust Association, decided to branch out and launch a separate staycation business as the pandemic continued to prevent longhaul, international travel.
“I have been carriage driving for 40 years; I started life in agriculture and went into travel when I was 24, so I’ve come back full circle,” said Nye, who spent 30 years at Trailfinders before setting up his own direct-sell, longhaul tour operation. “I thought, ‘are we going to sit around and twiddle our thumbs or do something different?’”
Gotwick Horse Drawn Carriages was set up in April 2021 and offers ‘Champagne carriage drives’ and ‘hands on the reins’ learning experiences for adults and children in an ‘enchanted’ forest near East Grinstead.
Nye secured an exclusive licence to drive his own two horses on a neighbouring private estate, which has purpose-built carriage tracks in ancient English woodland. The trips are marketed as offering a ‘sensory experience’ and an ‘escape from urban life’.
The move has already paid off, said Nye, with local five-star hotels referring customers.
“It means we have generated an income to live on. We are paying hotels a referral fee and we’d be happy to do the same with travel agents,” said Nye, who admitted the longhaul market would be ‘lucky’ to have a meaningful a winter season this year.
He said: “Hotels are so busy and clients are desperate for things to do. If we have a strong autumn then this will marry neatly into our travel business as typically we are tend to be busy in winter not summer. Last winter was horrendous because there was nothing to do and we were worried about the future.”
While his tour operator business takes a back seat, Nye said the new business had been a rewarding venture. “This business has been a breath of fresh air. I have only ever been a tour operator, I’ve never operated experiences, I’ve sat on the other side of the fence.
“It’s been a really interesting experience and we have had positive feedback, with five-star reviews and from an overall health perspective it’s been rewarding,” he said. “It’s only a matter of time before flights take again to the skies but in the meantime life in another sector of the travel industry has been an enjoyable experience.”
Depending on the time of day, the trips include tea, coffee, English sparkling wine made using the ‘Champagne method’ locally at the Kingscot Estate vineyard, croissants, pain au chocolat, fairtrade chocolate truffles and fruit, while the learning experiences include a ‘Zero to Hero’ fun obstacle course with dual rein instructor assistance.
Nye added: “It’s about engagement with nature. We are trying to get people to be more aware of what’s important. Staycations have given people a chance to re-engage with this country. It’s such a sensory experience in the forest.”
The business plans to carry on until October and restart next spring for the bluebell season in 2022.