Hey all,

Early next year I'll be heading over to the UK for a month-long trip — planning a pretty extensive drive around England and Scotland (looking like in a Defender). It'll be my first big trip to the UK, outside of a couple of days in London and Edinburgh a few years back — not venturing outside the city for either though.

I'm keen to make the most of the time I've got and (hopefully) get behind the wheel of a Defender on a full-day Land Rover Experience, but I have no idea about which Experience I should jump on. Looking for an experience in a scenic location with some impressive off-roading...I'm sure the majority fit with this criteria.

Experiences in Solihull, Scotland, Eastnor, North Yorkshire and London would work with my itinerary — if you could pick just one (or maybe two), which would you go for?.

Grateful for some advice from those with some experience with them!

Many thanks

 

I would pick Scotland first depending where the experience is taking place. I did Scotland back in 2001 and it was at Skibo, sublime!
I have also done Eastnor and would recommend it.

 

I went to the Solihull Experience Center when I went to the UK in 2022. I went with my 83 year-old grandfather and one of my friends who lives in the UK, and we all had an absolute blast. My instructor, Paul, was fantastic. Couldn't have asked for a better instructor. One of the things he taught us was to shuffle the steering wheel instead of crossing your arms to turn full-lock. To this day, I can still hear him shouting "shuffle the wheel" whenever I'm off-roading. It stuck with me, and it is definitely easier when maneuvering to shuffle the wheel.

The Jungle Track at the Solihull site was probably my favorite track. You feel like you're in a jungle in the Amazon even though you're on the grounds of a state-of-the-art production facility. Another benefit of the Solihull Experience is that you can also do a factory tour. They have two factory tours- a normal one where you have an audio guide and a VIP tour where you have a private tour guide. I did the VIP tour, and you are provided with lunch and the tour itself is much more in-depth and you get much closer access. You are literally walking alongside the final production line. I have been to several car factories and this was by far the best one. The VIP tour is primarily for those who are picking up their new Range Rover/RR Sport at the factory, but anyone can do it.

You will also have to book a few weeks in advance, as you can only enter the facility as long as you have an experience drive or tour booked.

Here's a photo album from the factory tour and experience center: https://photos.google.com/share/AF1Q...lrNy01SVdXQi1n

 

We've been to LRE Butterstone Loch at Dunkled numerous times and always had a brilliant day, in fact I have booked to take some clients to a full day on the 25th October, if you do the full day it normally includes driving out onto the moors of the Cardeny Estate which has some spectacular views. We did the half day course at the LRE site in Skipton Yorkshire, we found it disappointing after being along to Dunkeld.

 

I now have a new item added to my "Bucket List".... Wow, what could be cooler than doing that in Scotland!