Just got dates for this years safaris. Thinking of doing the September one.

I'm assuming from what I've read that I wont need sump/tank guards and Mega off road kit.

Any recommendations on camping/caravan sites nearby (sorry CG)

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Booking Dates 2016

If you are interested in joining us on any of the dates below you can make a booking by clicking on the links below.

Saturday February 27th 2016 4×4 Safari

Sunday April 3rd 2016 Kielder 4×4 Safari

Saturday May 14th 2016 4×4 Safari

Sunday June 12th 2016 4×4 Safari

Saturday July 30th 2016 4×4 Safari

Sunday September 11th 2016 4×4 Safari

Saturday October 15th 2016 4×4 Safari

Saturday December 3rd 2016 4×4 Safari

The cost is £60 per vehicle and this includes a cooked breakfast* for the driver.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Andy
Freelander2 HSE (59 Plate, MY10 spec)

Standard fl2 will go round fine. You may pick up some scratches from brambles/conifers
Enjoyable trip out At work
At home

"I can't always believe facts I read on the web" - Charles Dickens

winner by default of the tractor vs caravan race

A few pics from kielder, this is the worst part, may catch the fuel tank, just a scrape and nothing to worry about.



Taz

Click image to enlarge

Click image to enlarge

Come along and enjoy the day(s).

I help run the days and drive a Freelander 2. I do have guards underneath but not required. The Forestry Commision restrict the tracks we use but we can always escort vehicles on a less demanding section if required (very rare). The Freelander 2 is far more capable on forest tracks than many other 4x4 owners like to admit !!!!!!

I'm Ian and I also help run the events with Mark, we had two Freelanders on yesterdays event which coped without any underbody protection. The section in the photo that Taz has posted is not in use at the moment as there is a lot of harvesting going on in that section of the forest. Also embarrassingly the photo he has posted of the D4 stuck is me in my old car

We do have a list of local accommodation on our website here http://www.kielder4x4safari.co.uk/?page_id=591

We also have a facebook page which has some photos from yesterdays event https://www.facebook.com/groups/Kielder4x4/

All proceeds from the events go to Northumberland National Park Mountain Rescue Team

If anybody has any further questions about the event I'm sure either Mark or me can answer them  Kielder 4x4 Safari

Thanks all for the information. I'll probably be booking for September.

Looking forward to it now. Andy
Freelander2 HSE (59 Plate, MY10 spec)

I didn't mention any names

Will see you at an event this year Ian

As we have some members on here it may be worth enquiring as to what's available on your chosen date. I did the Kielder last year, slightly concerned at some of the pics on the website of fairly extreme conditions in a quarry, so I was quite surprised to find that the whole trip was on very straightforward tracks. A little bit of superficial scratching from passing trees, but absolutely nothing that would trouble the car or cause it to ground. When I asked about the more severe stuff in the quarry the answer was that the eagles were nesting and that severely curtailed activities in some areas. Don't get me wrong - it was a great day out and I would have avoided the rough stuff anyway in my nearly new car, but if you are looking for more extreme terrain it would be worth asking Ian and Mark as to what's on offer.
As an aside, this was my first off-road trip in the auto (previous FL was a manual) and it took a bit of getting used to. I ended up driving most of it in normal road mode, using Command Shift. I think I actually prefer the manual version off road.
Oh and the breakfast is excellent! Ex AA Series III LWB Safari - Gone
300TDi Disco (bought new - terrible car) sent back after 18 months
Freelander 1 Estate - leased, given back at end of lease
200TDi Disco (bought from a mate with 100,000 on the clock) - Gone
Disco 2 TD5 - sold and exported to France
FR2 TD4 GS - Gone
FR2 SD4 HSE - Now changed for a DS
New model ex-demo Evoque S 180 in white
Unable to order a new DS, so gave up. Now have a Volvo S90 Recharge.

The tracks we use are all suitable for a Freelander, unfortunately we don't have access to the quarry any more due to health and safety issues The event is not a hard core off road event, it is more like a gentle drive down some easy green lanes that you wouldn't normally have access to. These routes/tracks can of course change due to snow or rain but on the whole they are still passable. We do change our routes as before every event we have to submit a route plan and if that route goes through any areas where harvesting is taking place we have to change it, we also have to take into account when the Ospreys visit as this closes down huge parts of the forest and if any areas are being overused and become cut up we will avoid them also.
If anybody has any other questions either ask on here or PM me and I'll do my best to answer them. Our website has just had a major overhaul but all links should (hopefully) work, this link will take you to the bookings page http://www.kielder4x4safari.co.uk/?post_type=product  Kielder 4x4 Safari

That clarifies matters and sums it up well Dan - as I think I made clear it's a great day out, but you're unlikely to meet any extreme conditions. And if you don't know Kielder the scenery is pretty spectacular! Ex AA Series III LWB Safari - Gone
300TDi Disco (bought new - terrible car) sent back after 18 months
Freelander 1 Estate - leased, given back at end of lease
200TDi Disco (bought from a mate with 100,000 on the clock) - Gone
Disco 2 TD5 - sold and exported to France
FR2 TD4 GS - Gone
FR2 SD4 HSE - Now changed for a DS
New model ex-demo Evoque S 180 in white
Unable to order a new DS, so gave up. Now have a Volvo S90 Recharge.

MarkyMark wrote:

Come along and enjoy the day(s).

I help run the days and drive a Freelander 2. I do have guards underneath but not required. The Forestry Commision restrict the tracks we use but we can always escort vehicles on a less demanding section if required (very rare). The Freelander 2 is far more capable on forest tracks than many other 4x4 owners like to admit !!!!!!

Any dates for 2017 in the diary yet?

Yes we have just released the dates for 2017, they can be found on the website here http://www.kielder4x4safari.co.uk/?post_type=product The February event is nearly full already  Kielder 4x4 Safari

I've a Disco TD5 manual and a FL2 auto. Both on 100% road tyres as they're not used off road. Would either of these cope? Its years since we've driven off road (when we had a Disco V.

They would both cope easily, as I mentioned earlier on in the post the event is not a hard core off road event, it is more like a gentle drive down some easy green lanes that you wouldn't normally have access to and raising some money for the mountain rescue team in the process.  Kielder 4x4 Safari