OFF-ROAD DRIVING IN SOUTH WALES

Getting very muddy on a big hill near Cardiff on a half-day off-road driving experience with 4×4 Driving School.

It’s been a while since I’ve laughed so much doing a buy-an-experience type activity. We spent an incredibly fun few hours off-road driving with 4×4 Driving School near Cardiff, messing about in the mud in their (highly customised) Land Rover 90s.

I booked this because my husband has always enjoyed off-road driving. Back in the day, we would go and mess about in his Suzuki Samurai on a pay-and-play off-road course on a farm in Lincolnshire. I drove for the very first time in that car, on a massive muddy field on a farm. I’m talking late 1990s. I’ll have to see if I’ve got any photos…  

Anyway, sans 4×4 these days, because he got rid of the Samurai in favour of something much more sensible, it’s been a while. We have done one or two off-roading experiences since then, and while they have been good, we have never really felt that same thrill of being fully in control of the vehicle.

This one looked different. Claiming to be the UK’s only off-road experience where you’re fully in control of the cars, it just looked like ridiculous fun. And it really was. We both giggled like children, scared each other equally, and had a thoroughly good time. To be honest, I wasn’t expecting to get to drive – this was my husband’s day out, and I was very happy to be the passenger. I’m so glad he insisted I had a turn.

Off-Road Driving in South Wales

Based on a farm in Taffs Well, not far from Caerphilly and a little north of Cardiff, the School has 40-acres of dedicated off-roading available. The course had tough terrain, steep embankments, mud pits (LOVED the mud pits), and rutty and rocky sections. We got the cars – and ourselves – absolutely caked in mud.

Our morning started with a cup of tea and the obligatory safety briefing. It was here the mood for the activity was set – this was an activity to be taken seriously, but with the main aim being to have a good time. The instructors (we had three people looking after us that morning), gave us the low down on the Land Rovers, course, and how to get the most out of our time, including some driving tips. There was a lot to take in, but we were so excited to get going.

And with that we were getting strapped into the cars and were heading up the side of a really big hill to see how much we’d been listening. There were only three couples on the experience that morning, in three trucks. The instructors were in 4x4s too, and we played follow the leader to get us up the hill and to the first area of the course.

Going Loopy

They really meant it when they said you are in full control of the vehicles. And that the course is muddy and gnarly! It was instantly fun, and the giggles started on our first circuit of the course.

For the first half of our time, we drove around various loops at the top of course, getting a feel for the cars and how they handled. The instructors had parked up, and positioned themselves (on foot) at significant points around the trail so they could give us instruction, and make sure we went the right way. We drove round and round, one way, then the other way, then taking a different route entirely, having a fantastic time.

We drove through big ruts, water filled trenches, around sharp turns, over rocks and roots, and along super slippery mud. Honestly, it was a ridiculous amount of fun – slightly dangerous and definitely adrenaline fuelled – fun.

After a handful of loops, we were stopped and told to swap drivers, giving us both the opportunity to make the other hold on for dear life! I thought my husband would want to stay in the driver’s seat, seeing as this was his Christmas present, but he was very keen that I should have a go. Partly so I could experience the off-road driving for myself, and also so he could have a rest! It was a physical workout, and we both really felt it in our arms and shoulders the following morning.

Into the Forest

The time went super quickly. That’s what happens when you are giggling like a child. After a little over an hour we stopped for a drink in one of the little huts at the top of the course. The view from there was incredible, what a spot.  

And then it was back in the trucks for some more off-road driving. This time we drove in convoy in a follow-the-leader style, through and around a bigger and steeper section of the course. It really felt like we were putting our driving to the test, with the addition of some steeper ascents and descents (loved those), some really deep mud, more rocky sections, and long tracks filled with (opaque with mud) water.

The final area we explored was a wooded area with ferns and bracken flanking the trail. This included a river crossing, some gnarly roots, and very twisty sections which meant my arms were pretty much done for the rest of the day. This was my favourite part of the experience, as it really felt like we were out exploring – off-road driving for real.

Although, with trees everywhere there was more chance something could go wrong. We were told that trees have a tendency to make the 4×4 trucks stop very quickly! There were no accidents, though, not even a rollover – phew. Although if there had been, the trucks have winches, and the team clearly knew how to get out of a pickle. It all felt like the right combination of safe and adventurous.

My Off-Road Driving Experience in One Minute

As far as reviewing this off-road driving experience with 4×4 Driving School goes, let’s just say I had an incredibly fun and muddy morning. While a little nervous when I first took the wheel (because I wasn’t supposed to be driving – this was a gift for my husband!), I was giggling like a child in no time. A brilliantly enjoyable way to spend a Saturday morning.

An unexpected bonus was that the team, whilst making sure we went the right way and didn’t do anything too stupid, took a bunch of video clips, which they sent us. I published an Instagram reel and a YouTube short showing our experience in under one minute… see if you can hear the giggles!

A Few Notes

There wasn’t much information sent between booking and the activity date, just a quick email to say we were on the list for our chosen date. But the website has a bunch of detail on where to go, what time to turn up, and what to wear, so we followed the notes from there.

And as soon as we were on site, the amount of information and instruction could not have been better; so, go ready to have a good time, and listen carefully when you get there.

I would recommend heeding the advice on wearing clothing you don’t mind getting wet and muddy. It was a cold March day when we went, so I wore warm layers, with my old winter coat and my Mac in a Sac waterproof trousers over the top. I had hiking boots on my feet, which were ideal (there’s nothing subtle about the pedals, no need for driving shoes!). Oh, and my beanie hat, neck buff and sunglasses were vital – you don’t wear a helmet when driving the trucks, but you will certainly want something on your head. There were safety glasses available should I have wanted them, but my sunglasses were sufficient, so I stuck with those.

I paid £220 for the half-day experience, which covers the truck (space for two people), booking the date with the team at 4×4 Driving School by email. Given the activity I would say this is a fair price – driving experiences are not cheap (I expect a lot of it is insurance), but this one was worth it. I should add that I would absolutely book this same experience again another time. It was that much fun.

Went Up a Hill…

We didn’t get time on our short trip this time, but there’s a very famous ‘mountain’ worth a walk up if you’ve got the afternoon free after your off-road driving experience. The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill but Came Down a Mountain is based on a story heard by Christopher Monger from his grandfather about the village of Taff’s Well and its neighbouring Garth Hill.

The short version of the tale (which is probably a tall tale…), is locals believed – wanted to believe – it was a mountain, but the Ordnance Survey surveyor measured it to 984 feet –16 feet lower than the 1,000 needed to categorise it as a mountain. Enraged, the villagers add a 20-foot mound to the top to push it through the benchmark height.

Anyway, I’ve never hiked it, but there’s a sub five-mile, 2-hour route here on OS Maps that looks decent. I’m told there are views south across the Cardiff city and the Bristol Channel to Exmoor, and north to the Brecon Beacons (where I recently went stargazing). Let me know if you hike it.