Off Road in Nottinghamshire
If Robin Hood was still around he'd have ditched the horse for a Land Rover and we at Into the Blue think he would have signed up for this superb 4x4 off-roading experience in the depths of the Sherwood Forest.
Quite simply, the terrain for this 4x4 experience is impressive - surrounded by pine trees, the 4x4 tracks weave in and out of the forest but before you take to the wheel, all drivers are given a safety briefing (and a cup of tea or coffee, of course!). Your instructor is with you throughout your experience and the session starts with a demonstration of driving technique by the instructor.
Then it's your turn to step behind the wheel. Using a 4x4 such as the celebrated Land Rover Defender for it's true purpose (one that doesn't involve taking the kids to school or sitting on the M25!) is a definite test of skill and concentration - it really is totally different driving a normal car and the sort of terrain and obstacles you can conquer is completely mind blowing - the most fun you can have at 5mph!
With the fully qualified (and very patient) instructor in the passenger seat at all times, you will be guided through country paths with water pools, steep inclines, bumps, rollers and ruts. As you gain confidence, the forest awaits - complete with fallen tree trunks to drive over and even 'Dave's dodgy woodland trail' to negotiate - mind those tree stumps!
Finally, it's back to base with the manmade technical park - here you'll negotiate some of the deepest water and steepest drops and climbs - one minute all you can see is sky, seconds later you feel like you're nose diving into a lake!
Experience summary: Both the full day and 2 hour experiences are sold on a 1:1 ratio, but you can share your experience with up to two friends - either as passengers or extra drivers, at a cost of £15 per person (2 hrs experience) or £25 (full day), payable locally. On the 2 hr experience you can expect to be behind the wheel for at least 1.5 hrs. The full day experience starts around 0930 and finishes around 1630 with a good 5-6 hrs of driving.
Availability: The tuition is available all year round and the site operates Monday to Saturday.
Requirements: Full driving licence is required which covers you for all our 4x4 driving experiences. Please ensure you wear clothes and shoes suited to countryside conditions.
Spectators and Facilities: Are welcome, but due to the size of the site, you will not be able to see all the action, but the welcome cabin is located right next to the technical park. There are toilet and refreshment facilities on site. The experience can be shared by paying locally for extra passengers or drivers in the vehicle (see under 'Operation'). The full day experiences includes lunch on site. Both experiences include tea and coffee on site.