Land Rover's Young Off-Roader Experience gives 11- to 17-year-olds a chance to take a spin on the Eastnor estate's wild side in a Defender 90. We talk to a 13-year-old who has gone through the course
Land Rover Experience Eastnor, UK - "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." And we're glad JLR hasn't seen fit to drastically change the essence of Land Rover's being. Happily enough, its most radical move has been to bring the Defender and Discovery model nameplates into the limelight, but we can accept this in the grand scheme of things.
Our last visit to the Land Rover Experience Eastnor in the beautiful Malvern Hills (designated an AONB, or Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) was exactly a decade ago and in a Range Rover Sport.
The extensive, 5,000-acre family-owned private estate features a mind-boggling combination of trails that cater to all driver skill levels but are comfortably within the all-terrain abilities of every Land Rover/Range Rover.
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River crossings, steep gradients, articulated rock crawls, and constantly changing surfaces are par for this course. It still brings a smile to my face as it was an exquisite day out then, and one I would have loved to share with my 13-year-old daughter.
During the discussions for my half-day off-road course on this occasion in a Defender 110, I'm told there is also a slot for her. Bear in mind, she has no driving/karting/ bumper car experience (Mario Kart on the Nintendo Switch notwithstanding) and no driving licence, so I'm a little sceptical when I'm told she just needs to be taller than 1.35m to qualify for it.
The Young Off-Roader Experience is a recent initiative by the brand that not only fires up the young one's interest in getting down and dirty with off-roading but also specifically in Land Rovers.
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No driving licence or experience is necessary, and it is targeted at intrepid kids between 11 and 17 years of age — the only requirement is that you're at least 1.35m tall (so you can reach the steering wheel and pedals).
It was definitely a proud daddy moment to see her ensconced behind the steering wheel of the Defender 90 as my senior instructor for the day, Simon Millest, eased her into the task of driving.
Mind you, there is no theory, and they go straight to practical, so drive-time is maximised. It is almost surreal to see your kiddo at the helm of one of Land Rover's most iconic, rugged 4x4s as the instructor susses out her driving before letting her loose on more challenging terrain.
It's hard to imagine that we would be witnessing her first driving experience, off-road at that, and behind the wheel of a Land Rover Defender 90. With this new milestone and core memory unlocked, it was almost like watching her take her first baby steps all over again.
Moreover, it was also a welcome change seeing her appreciate the real world in all its natural glory through the Defender 90's windscreen instead of being glued to the palm-sized one on her iPhone playing games.
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Of course, this sets the bar immeasurably high for her first actual on-road driving lesson when she turns 18, not to mention expectations for her first car, but I reckon we'll get to that in good time.
Before even hitting the actual trails around the estate, we should qualify that the "kiddie" practice course is anything but child's play. The rough-roads practice area features a stepped ramp up/down slope, a vehicle articulation course and a water-crossing channel.
It's all satisfyingly confidence-building, pulling city-slicker newcomers out of their comfort zones and into the rough.
Although many of the children have no prior driving experience, they take to off-road challenges even more fearlessly and naturally.
From the outside shooting, it seemed to this author that the kiddo was tackling each new obstacle with a nonchalance that comes only with seasoned practice.
When we ventured onto the trails, I hopped back into the car with them to watch her from the inside as she rumbled along under the instructor's tutelage.
We have already learnt that an effective instructor should possess the requisite driving skills and know how to impart them to different ages and personalities. This means having the innate ability to suss all this out within the first 10 to 15 minutes of interaction to deliver effective instructions for the participant for the remainder of the session.
Simon's calm demeanour was echoed in her driving style because she was calm, collected, and self-assured when responding to his directions. We should qualify that the Young Off-Roader Experience isn't heavily nannied, where the instructor has a full set of controls on his side of the car. There is a brake pedal, which is no different from your average Driver's Ed learner's car.
“When dad told me I would have a chance to drive a Land Rover on an off-road course, I thought he was joking and I would be in some electrified form of a scale-model car, but I was wrong!” Elisabeth tells us.
She continues, "When I first got into the driver's seat, I was a bit nervous as everything was new. However, after practising in the articulation 'pit', I felt more confident and ready to tackle the trail. Throughout the entire journey, Simon, the instructor, was extremely patient, especially when explaining the different features of the car to me."
I'm sure all parents can attest to this, but trying to teach your kid anything is never easy—they seem to know how to push our buttons! Parenting, just like driving, is a continuous learning journey, and I'm embarrassed to admit I probably couldn't have been as calm as Simon was, so watching him in action gave me some pointers in figuring out how to interact better with Elisabeth.
Elisabeth seemed to have inherited this writer's zest for speed. "Every time I accelerated, I was hit with a rush of adrenaline. By the end of my one-hour session, I had gotten the hang of it and felt more confident driving the car. Completing the off-road trail and the water course gave me a sense of achievement and satisfaction."
However, she came away with much more than a newfound appreciation for the challenges of trail driving. "Life is filled with the same ups and downs. However, this is part of the journey and daring to have the spirit of adventure will always help us overcome the obstacles and push through."
