Hydes: Horseback Riding and Regional History

Hydes combines horseback riding with insights into parish history and the historic landscape of Long Green Valley. When planning your trip, it is worth distinguishing between hands-on horse activities, a tour that requires an appointment, and topics related to wine and regional history. This will help you choose the focus of your stay based on whether you want to spend time with horses, learn more about local history, or experience a historic landscape.

Horseback Riding and the Horses & Hounds Byway

Hopeful Manor Farm offers riding lessons for riders of all ages and experience levels. The “Introduction to Horses” experience requires no prior knowledge. It includes horse safety, leading and grooming horses, and handling tack. Time in the saddle is also included if participants feel comfortable. The two offerings provide different ways to get involved: lessons focus on riding skills and experience levels, while the introductory experience also covers basic horse care.

The Horses & Hounds Byway offers another perspective on horses. It winds through gently rolling countryside to horse farms and riding events; Hydes Road is also part of the byway. This combines a scenic drive with a focus on horses, without requiring you to take part in a riding activity yourself. If you’re planning your trip around a specific horse-related experience, you can choose between lessons, an introduction to handling horses, and a drive along the byway.

Parish History and Historic Sites

The SJE History Exhibit is located in the Koontz House, directly behind the church. Tours are available by appointment for parish members and visitors from the community. Be sure to schedule an appointment. The exhibit features photographs of the founders, family trees, and maps of the state and county. It also covers the history of Long Green Valley. The topics range from family and parish history to regional development.

St. John the Evangelist Church is also a site of historical significance: the building at 13307 Long Green Pike is listed in the Long Green Valley Historic District. Hydes Station at 5235 Hydes Road is also among the sites listed there. In terms of railroad history, four stations have been preserved, including Hydes Station. Long Green Creek runs near Hyde Station. These sites can be considered alongside a visit to the History Exhibit, without combining the different attractions into a single walking tour.

Long Green Valley and Its Architectural History

The Long Green Valley Historic District is a rural agricultural area of approximately 6,066 acres northeast of Baltimore. Its significance lies in a collection of buildings from the 18th, 19th, and early 20th centuries set in a rural agricultural landscape. This gives the area a different historical dimension from looking at a single building: the focus is on the connection between structures from different centuries and an agriculturally shaped landscape.

When planning your visit, you can therefore consider two distinct perspectives: the SJE History Exhibit explores parish and regional history through its exhibits, while the Historic District represents the broader context of buildings and landscape. Hydes Station and the church are specific sites listed in the district. The byway, meanwhile, passes through gently rolling countryside to horse farms and riding events. Together, these topics offer different reasons to explore the history and landscape of the region.

Wineries and Rural Architecture

Founded in 1945, Boordy is Maryland’s oldest winery. Its historic architectural features include a restored 19th-century bank barn with a tasting room. An in-depth tour of the vineyard, winery, and barrel cellar includes a guided tasting of current Landmark Reserve wines, along with a selection of regional cheeses, meats, and breads. If you’re interested in wine culture, this experience combines a tasting with insights into several areas of the winery.

DeJon Vineyard is set in the gently rolling landscapes of Long Green Valley in northern Baltimore County and covers more than 20 acres of pastoral land. The vineyard was established in 1996. Its original barn was renovated and transformed into a cozy, country-style setting. By contrast, Boordy’s restored barn and tasting room, along with its in-depth tour, are the main attractions; at DeJon, the expansive landscape and renovated barn shape the experience described. This can help you choose between a wine-focused tour with a tasting and a glimpse of a country-style property when planning your trip.

Discover more destinations: Towson, Baltimore, Lutherville-Timonium, Rosedale, Catonsville, White Marsh, Sparks Glencoe, Glen Arm.

Back to the main travel guide: Baltimore.