After negotiating access to around 300,000 acres of land normally closed to the public in vehicles, 4x4TreksGalloway is leading Off Road 4×4 tours, up to a week long, on forest, farm and estate land in the Dumfries & Galloway and Ayrshire regions of Scotland. The tours are suitable for all 4×4’s and are more about getting to interesting places and seeing interesting things using the minimum of tarmac than testing your car’s ultimate off road performance. The tours came about after the partners at 4x4TreksGalloway met others interested in off road driving in Scotland but who could only find locked gates. Now after 18 months of research and planning the idea is a reality and you can Off Road in Scotland, with 5 tours ahead in 2014, 2 tours each in July and August and 1 in October.
A typical tour starts within about 3-4 hours drive of most of the UK, just over the border from Carlisle and finishes at Scotland’s most southerly point the Mull of Galloway lighthouse. 5 nights are spent in the one location in the centre of Galloway from where participants set out to explore a different area each morning. During the tour clients have the services of 2 fully insured guides, included are all land access charges for several hundred kilometres of off road driving, 6 nights camping, half a day introduction to field sports on a private forestry and sporting estate, lunch on 2 days, an up close encounter with red deer, experiencing milking time at a revolutionary dairy farm as well as sampling the ice cream and cheese made there, driving to the highest driveable point in the Galloway Forest Park, visit the Dark Sky Park by night, a day as guests on a private 11,000 acre estate of trees and mountains exploring its 70 miles of tracks and trails. Galloway is home to much dramatic countryside and many species of wildlife 4x4TreksGalloway lead you through the former and take you to some of the places you can encounter the latter. Recently on 4x4TreksGalloway routes Osprey, Peregrine, Merlin, Red Kite, Red Deer, Roe Deer, Buzzard, Badgers, Red Squirrels and many others have been encountered as well as the Galloway icon the “Beltie” or Belted Galloway Cattle, so camera and binoculars are a must. There are many bolt on’s which can be added to a trip by 4x4TreksGalloway, such as, in place of camping stay in a log cabin, Yurt, or hotel, try tank driving, fly fishing and deer stalking, end the tour with Saturday night spent in a hotel which has a great reputation for food and service overlooking Portpatrick. For fly drive visitors or those with no suitable vehicle, 4×4 rentals including a roof tent are available.
Nick Robertson of 4x4TreksGalloway comments:- “All of us involved in the business wish to bring others to experience our native Scotland; the countryside, the wildlife and the people. This is not just a job for any of us, we seek more, to share our enthusiasm for back country Scotland and lifelong interest in 4×4 vehicles. Our business plans show that for every £1 we retain we expect to generate £6 in revenue locally”. 4x4TreksGalloway are already making a positive impact on customers with comments like:- “We just wanted to let you know how much we enjoyed our recent trip with you and to thank you for your indulgence and hospitality.” – “I’ve been coming to South West Scotland for over 20 years to shoot and have never seen an Osprey in the wild till today. Great trip and I only wish it went on longer.” – “We are of the opinion that your formula is just about right and we will remember many highlights”.
Find fuller information at http://www.4x4treksscotland.com