FOR as long as there have been Land Rovers, their owners have been taking them out and driving them on unpaved surfaces, both for work and play. It’s what they were designed to do, after all, and that desire to get out and experience what your vehicle can do in different and difficult conditions hasn’t gone away.
The trouble is, there’s a big lack of understanding around the terms associated with driving off-tarmac in the UK, and the sort of driving and overall behaviour that’s acceptable depending on where you go. Arguably the most common mix-up among those just getting in to 4x4 ownership and wanting to venture off-tarmac is the difference between off-roading and greenlaning. While they might both involve getting sand, mud or rock under the tyres of your chosen steed, they are two very different activities.
WHAT IS OFF-ROADING?
Well, the term is fairly self-explanatory – you’re driving on ground or in an area that isn’t a tarmac road. In the UK, off-road events are generally held at pay-and-play sites; privately-owned pieces of land that are either open for business every day, or opened up on specific dates throughout the year for visitors to drive around. Most off-road sites offer lots of different obstacles to suit those with standard or modified vehicles, and there will be something for every skill level from first time drivers to seasoned experts. Expect everything from gentle slopes, open plains and
