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OFF-ROAD ADVENTURE WEEKEND
TRACKS & TRAILS
Down quiet green lanes, you can re-trace ancient routes which were the very lifelines for generations of travellers. These ancient roads offer Land Rover owners a rare and privileged opportunity to view breathtakingly beautiful areas that no-one other than very intrepid walkers, hill farmers and forestry workers are likely to share.
The routes that the LRO Adventure club will use in the Northamptonshire, Leicestershire and Rutland area are skilfully planned so that over the course of the weekend they vary from scenic and not too challenging lanes with unique views, through to challenging “off-road site” drives (you can challenge yourself as much as you like!!). This will become more apparent as we take you through an impressive variety of terrains from forest to hilltop, down narrow winding and overgrown tracks (light scratches can occur) and back down to surrounding Downs and gravel trails while briefly visiting or passing places of historical or local significance. These weekends are ideal for beginners and newcomers who want to try out themselves and their vehicles before venturing further a field. I would not recommend it for those who are looking for a “blood & guts” lets winch across the UK type of event, we do Wales trips once a month… and these trips are specially customised for those who require the more extreme but not damaging. If you want something tougher then try our “Challenge” events, these range from semi-serious to the Ultimate!
We are aware that some people want a little more than just gentle green lanes so this trip is designed for most vehicles (except Freelander this trip) and most types of driving skills, from Novice to “done it a few times before. After a short off road driving training session at the Pro-Trax, Tixover site we will head off for lanes around Stamford and Oundle before visiting the Land Rover Experience centre at Rockingham castle. From there we will slip and slide at West Lodge farm park before winding our way back along the Welland valley towards Stamford for the end of the first day. Day 2 will see us head towards Market Harborough and the lanes featured recently in the Rutland breaks feature in LRO, today we visit two sites before ending the day close to Market Harborough.
What makes the area we will be using so attractive as a driving environment is that the lanes sit on a variety of terrain ensuring little damage to the trails and the correct amount of difficulty for the beginner. The lanes, which we use, would have been worn down by carts, walkers and even Foreign armies on the move, over thousands of years. The chalk and clay base becomes very interesting and slimy when wet, therefore high levels of concentration are required at times. A misjudged approach could see Land Rovers taking home the impression of the surrounding trees on their bodywork!
All of the tracks require low box, and are hugely enjoyable, the hard ground and dust in the summer in comparison with the mud and ruts of the winter make travelling across the terrain highly entertaining! You can see this for yourselves as we tackle water crossings, washed out tracks, dense forest and steep gullies, also taking in various places of interest and nature sanctuaries en-route. (Lanes are chosen so as not too use the ones, which could be damaged excessively)
Whilst this is not a physically difficult terrain it is technically very demanding - brain before brute force as it were! But again for those who want to design their own challenge we have some excellent off road centres to visit! However, by the time you make your way back home you will have wound down several notches from the pressures of everyday life...!
The format for these weekends is 1-4 people to a vehicle, sharing the driving with their partners over the next few days.
The LRO Club supply one lead vehicle to travel with each group of six vehicles (Max 12 vehicles in two groups) The vehicles will be specially prepared with mud tyres, winches, satellite navigation, raised air intakes and shovels and spades just in case...!!
It is also worth noting at this point that 4 x 4 owners with any make of vehicle are welcome to accompany us on these trips as the nature of the terrain is suitable for all types of vehicle and varying standards of driver ability. You can also be sure that when the 'going gets tough' the professionals are on hand to ensure that everyone makes it through safely to home camp!
Our rendezvous point for the weekend's adventure will be the Land Rover Experience centre at Rockingham Castle near Corby
Our overnight stop on the Saturday night will be near Corby and I will arrange tables at a local hostel! for us all to get together for an evening meal (price not included) After a hard day driving over and through the Shires and Rutland the guests can then relax in friendly surroundings before taking to their beds at leisure.
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