Test Your Mettle In A 4×4 Off-Road Driving Experience
4x4s aren’t meant for the city streets, and in this off road adventure experience you'll find out just what they're capable of. Put one of these superb off-roaders through its paces in the perfect playground – pocked with peaks, dips and extreme tilts – and enjoy the drive of your life as you push your vehicle (and yourself) to the limit.
Negotiate the testing track with expert tuition and try your hand at all manners of different challenges. Wooded terrain, water crossings and wild angles are nothing for this ready-for-anything machine. It's an all-action, all-terrain adventure and the best 4×4 experience by far.
What to expect
Whichever experience you book, you can look forward to plenty of adrenalin-pumping action as you tackle the dips and dales of the English, Scottish, or Welsh countryside in a huge 4×4. On the day you'll be introduced to your instructor before undergoing a briefing that covers the techniques of driving 4x4s, as well as all the necessary safety considerations. Then you'll typically be treated to a few demonstrations by your instructor to show you how it's done.
Once you're comfortable with the capabilities of the vehicle then it's your turn to climb into the driving seat and have a bash. With your instructor by your side you'll put your skills into practice and have plenty of fun churning through the mud, splashing through water and tackling various obstacles.
Itineraries vary depending on the venue and what session you opt for. For instance, a taster 4×4 off-roading experience lasts for an hour or two, while other experiences can be booked for a half or full day. In most cases you will share the experience with a small number of other participants. However you can opt for a one-on-one off-road adventure which is dedicated to you.
Normally you'd need to hold a valid driving licence (and take the original on the day). Bring spare clothes as you may get wet and muddy, and wear comfortable clothing that you don't mind getting dirty.
Unleash your inner country bumpkin and merrily tear around a thrilling off-road course, courtesy of this awesome driving experience. In this rough and ready challenge you'll discover that ruts, dips and welly-sucking mud are no match for the 4×4 as it tackles this testing terrain with gusto. You'll tilt, plunge and blast your way from one extreme angle to another, rumbling around the most ridiculous obstacles and happily hurling yourself up hill and down dale – all in the name of fun. If that's how you roll, then this extreme driving experience will be right up your street.
Keep rollin'! - What You Need To Know
- WHEN: Experiences take place year-round. Proper wet British weather lends itself very well to ideal off-roading conditions.
- WHERE: Events take place at tracks across the UK.
- WHO: Off-roading adventures appeal to a wide range of people, from those that spend their lives on the motorway to those that own a 4x4 but have never taken it off-road. It's an experience taken by many men but it's equally as fun for women too. There's even ladies days at selected locations where girl power takes centre stage.
- OCCASIONS: This has birthday present or Christmas present written all over it. It's an excuse for some muddy good fun testing a 4x4 to its limits.
- PRICES: Taster experiences can be easily found under £50 per person. You can get half a day for around £100 a head while a full day will cost upwards of £150. Expect to pay a premium for a one-to-one experience. (correct at the time of writing)
- QUESTIONS: Need help? Ask questions here and I'll try to help as best I can
- TRIED THIS?: Would you recommend it? Share your thoughts here
Top off road driving experiences
4x4 Off Road Driving Taster
This is a good all-rounder 4x4 taster experience that takes place at Pingewood (Berkshire) and Dorchester (Dorset). Over 25 minutes of driving you'll learn to master a Land Rover Discovery on a course littered with obstacles.
4x4 Crazy Car Driving at Newton Longville near Milton Keynes
"Off-roading with a twist" is probably the best way to describe this experience. Some daft person has modified a Land Rover to give it inverse steering - left goes right and vice versa. The highly disobedient 4x4 is tricky to master so is perfect for anyone with a competitive spirit to overcome this beast.
Land Rover Manufacturing Tour and Off-Road Drive at Solihull
An ideal experience for petrolheads and DIY mechanics, this combines a tour with a chance to get behind the wheel of a Land Rover. You'll tour the Jaguar Land Rover plant at Solihull, learning about the production process. Then it's out onto the Jungle Track where you'll put a Land Rover or Range Rover through its paces on the same circuit engineers use to test their vehicles. A buffet lunch is also included.
Full Day Off Road Land or Range Rover Driving
Spent a day tackling challenging terrain in this off-roading experience. Vehicles typically used include a Land Rover Defender, a Land Rover Discovery, and a Range Rover Sport. You'll test the vehicle to its limits muddy climbs, scary drops, and unexpected hazards. You'll share the session with two other participants, each taking turns to drive. A light lunch is also included.
(Photo credit to Seadog; Tonygoldman)
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