Summer has a funny habit of making us all a little more adventurous. The sun appears for what feels like five minutes, everyone suddenly remembers the outdoors exists, and before you know it, the roads are packed with people heading for the same beach or garden centre. But if you're looking to make this summer genuinely memorable, there is a far better option than another queue for an overpriced ice cream.
Driving experiences are no longer just about supercars blasting around race circuits. They have evolved into something far more interesting, with unusual machines, muddy woodland trails, sideways action and even vehicles that don't technically drive on roads at all. They are the sort of experiences that make brilliant stories afterwards, because nobody has ever gathered around the barbecue desperate to hear about someone's trip to the supermarket.
If you fancy trying something a little different this summer, here are five driving adventures that prove you do not need a Ferrari to have an unforgettable day out.
There are very few vehicles that seem to ignore the laws of common sense quite like a hovercraft. It does not grip the ground, it does not behave like a car, and it certainly has no intention of going exactly where you first point it. That is precisely why it is so much fun.
After a full safety briefing, you'll learn how to control one of these remarkable machines on a purpose-built course before tackling slaloms across both land and a water obstacle. Unlike driving a car, you'll be steering from a kneeling position, balancing your body weight while managing the throttle and rudder. There are no brakes to rescue you if things go slightly wrong, which adds just the right amount of excitement without becoming intimidating.
Expect plenty of mud, a few laughs at your own expense, and a completely different driving experience that feels somewhere between boating, flying and controlled chaos. Waterproof clothing is recommended for good reason.
Most of us spend years trying to keep all four wheels firmly planted on the road. This experience throws that idea straight out of the window.
You'll climb aboard a specially prepared stunt vehicle alongside a professional driver before discovering what it feels like to travel balanced on just two wheels. It is the sort of manoeuvre usually reserved for action films where the hero somehow escapes an impossible situation without spilling their coffee.
Behind every dramatic moment is an enormous amount of precision and skill, making this far more than just showing off. It offers a fascinating insight into the world of professional stunt driving while giving passengers an adrenaline rush that few conventional driving experiences can match. It is one thing watching these stunts on television. Feeling the vehicle balance beside you is something entirely different.
There is something deeply satisfying about pointing a quad bike towards the woods and seeing where the trail leads. No traffic lights. No speed bumps. Just twisting woodland tracks, uneven ground and enough mud to remind you that white trainers were probably an ambitious choice.
Set within Matfen Forest, this guided quad biking adventure introduces riders to challenging natural terrain while remaining suitable for beginners. Following expert instruction, you'll venture into woodland trails where every corner presents something different, from steep climbs to muddy sections that demand smooth throttle control and a little confidence.
Quad bikes are wonderfully uncomplicated machines. They thrive where ordinary vehicles would wave a white flag, happily powering across rough ground while giving riders an excellent balance of excitement and control. It is less about outright speed and more about mastering the terrain beneath you, which somehow makes reaching the finish line even more satisfying.
Real Farm Old vs New Tractor Driving
Not every memorable driving experience has to involve tyre smoke or racing helmets. Sometimes it is simply fascinating to see how much engineering has changed over the decades.
This experience places you behind the wheel of both a classic vintage tractor and its modern counterpart, allowing you to compare two generations of agricultural machinery in a single session. Following a safety briefing, you'll learn the controls before tackling instructor-led manoeuvres and driving exercises in both vehicles.
The older tractor offers a wonderfully mechanical driving experience, where every movement reminds you that farming was once a very physical job. The modern machine, by comparison, demonstrates just how far technology has transformed life on the farm. Experiencing both back-to-back gives you a genuine appreciation for the evolution of agricultural engineering, making it surprisingly engaging whether you're a farming enthusiast or simply curious about machines.
Rallycross Passenger Ride Experience
If you've ever watched rallycross and thought the drivers must have completely misplaced their fear of corners, this experience provides the perfect opportunity to find out exactly what it feels like from the passenger seat.
You'll be strapped into a lightweight R180T Rage Buggy while a current or former rallycross champion demonstrates exactly how much performance these remarkable machines possess. With explosive acceleration, dramatic slides and astonishing grip on loose surfaces, the buggy attacks every corner with a level of commitment that feels almost unreasonable.
The lack of doors and windscreen only adds to the sense of speed, while the professional driver keeps everything perfectly under control as you charge sideways around the circuit. It is loud, fast, slightly muddy and guaranteed to leave you climbing out with a grin that refuses to disappear. Sometimes the fastest way around a corner genuinely is sideways.
Make This Summer One To Remember
Summer has always been about making memories, and the best ones usually begin with trying something you've never done before. Whether you're gliding across water in a hovercraft, balancing on two wheels, tackling forest trails on a quad bike, comparing generations of tractors or hanging on as a rallycross champion demonstrates the art of controlled mayhem, each experience offers something refreshingly different from the ordinary.
The beauty of these unique driving adventures is that they remind us driving is about far more than getting from one place to another. It can be challenging, educational, exhilarating or simply brilliantly ridiculous in all the right ways. Long after the suntan has faded and the barbecue has been packed away, you'll still be talking about the day you drifted through woodland mud, floated across a lake or discovered that travelling sideways is sometimes the most entertaining direction of all.
If this summer is going to include an adventure, it might as well be one worth remembering.
