General Description

Flynn Ranch is a working cattle ranch just outside the small town of Townsend in Montana, midway between Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks. It is run by Ted Flynn and his wife Debra, whose ancestors have been ranching this land for generations and provides the adventurous traveller with a great chance to experience the real West and life on a genuine working cattle ranch. Flynn Ranch covers about 22,000 acres in all, part of which surrounds the ranch house and part of which is in Montana's beautiful mountain country, high above Townsend. The ranch is run as it has been for centuries, yet has the advantage of modern facilities and, with a maximum of only 4 or 5 guests in any week, your stay is always highly personalised - individual riders are welcome and it is a wonderful choice for a group of friends booking together.

On certain dates in summer (May, June and August), there is also the option of joining ranchers on an authentic cattle drive, moving large numbers of cattle from lowland pastures to grazing allotments high in the hills, the epitome of the western ranching experience.

Summary

Dates 2008:	6 nights stay, Monday to Sunday, with 5 days riding and will be run from the following dates in 2008: Ranch stays 9th to 15th June 23rd to 29th June 7th to 13th July 21st to 27th July 4th to 10th August 1st to 7th September 15th to 21st September Cattle Drives 12th to 18th May 26th May to 1st June 18th to 24th August
Season:	May to September

Horses and Riding

There is a good selection of horses on the ranch, most of which are home or locally bred. The majority are Quarter horse and Quarter horse crosses which average around 15hh to 15.2hh. There is no strict weight limit for riders at Flynn Ranch but as special arrangements for weight carrying horses have to be made (Quarter horses are not that big in general) anyone weighing over 14 stone 4lbs (91kgs) should check with us first. Horses are ridden western style with western tack / traditional western saddles and you will be asked to groom and tack up your own horse each day.

Hours: Every day is different but you need to be prepared for some long days, with 6 to 7 hours riding.

Pace and experience required: The riding and riding pace during a stay at Flynn Ranch and whilst on a Cattle Drive is varied and really depends on the work that you are doing. When driving cattle, the pace might be slow with steep banks or rough, scrub covered valleys to climb and rocky narrow tracks to negotiate but on both there are usually good opportunities for some faster pace.

Accommodation

Accommodation at Flynn Ranch is in one of three 'bunkhouses' - weatherboard cabins. Rooms are simple but the bunkhouses are fairly newly built, are well decorated and reasonably comfortable. The cabins share two private bathrooms. Accommodation on Cattle Drives is either in the cabins at Flynn Ranch or in tents set up close to the bunkhouses so the bathroom facilities in the bunkhouses can be used.

Rates & Travel

Travel
The nearest airport to Flynn Ranch is Bozeman in Montana though you can also fly to Helena. Transfers from Bozeman and Helena on the first Sunday (Monday for Cattle Drives) and back after your stay are included. There are several options for flights to Bozeman - usually the best routing is with North West Airlines via Minneapolis but this depends on the time of year and there are various other options. Airfares vary with the routing and season but budget around £600 to £650 for an economy return to Bozeman.

Itinerary in Brief (6 Night Cattle Drive)

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