In this second instalment of an ambitious desert adventure, mirroring the activities of the WWII Long Range Desert Group, the team honour their forebears, then tackle the drive north through a dramatic sand storm in the Great Sand Sea

Words and photography: Toby Savage

Despite the concerns of our military escorts, we enjoyed an uninterrupted night camped on the edge of ‘bandit territory’ and awoke ready for another glorious day of driving our matched pair of LRDG replica Jeeps along routes used during WWII. We were near a famous landmark called ‘Three Castles’, comprising three enormous rock outcrops that are clearly visible from about 80 miles in any direction. These were used as surveillance points to track enemy supply convoys and it was on one of these that we elected to place our own memorial to the brave lads who endured hardship, danger and adventure 70 years ago.

This must be one to the most ambitious expeditions ever mounted in a pair of 1943 Jeeps. Seven intrepid souls had clubbed together to ship their Jeeps from UK to Egypt and embark on a trip that would take them from Cairo to the borders of Sudan and Libya following routes used by the legendary Long Range Desert Group in World War II

Words and photography: Toby Savage

The vague punctuality of international shipping was starting to bite as I sat in Cairo tracking our container ship, Cap Harvey, as it dithered about mid Mediterranean. The ETA of 2nd April eventually became a real date of 5th April, just a day before our planned drive south into the Desert. Our full team had assembled at the Mena House Hotel, a favourite haunt for the officers of the Long Range Desert Group – the famous unit of the British Army, that had inspired the trip (see separate panel page 44). All was set for our adventure, except for a noticeable lack of two Jeeps. To make matters worse, the following day was Friday, the Arab worlds’ equivalent of our Sunday. In a great ‘Plan B’ move, Sam Watson, our Cairo based LRDG expert, came up with a tour of relevant sites around Cairo enlisting his pal, Darrell Hardman and his three Land Rovers.

Well, it sounded like a good idea at the time… Toby Savage shares the ups and downs of planning a big Desert Expedition in two genuine WW2 Jeeps.  Just how do you get your off-roader into Africa if you cannot drive it there?

Like so many good ideas, our plan to take two Second World War Jeeps to Egypt started over a few beers. Three of us, Sam Watson, John Carroll and myself shared an interest in Jeeps, the desert and the exploits of The Long Range Desert Group.  Sam’s Masters Degree had been based on their accomplishments, John and I owned Jeeps in various states of disrepair and I had visited a few LRDG sites out in Libya. As the beer flowed and the conversation moved up a few decibels, a plan was hatched and by the end of the evening we had it sealed and nothing was going to stop us!

In the cold light of day, hangovers being cured by a fry up, our enthusiasm remained intact, but exactly how were we to achieve our goal and why had nobody done it before? Similar trips had been done in newer 4x4s, but old Jeeps seemed to restrict their foreign travel to the beaches of Normandy. Of course, the logistics of getting two Jeeps to Egypt would be tricky, there would inevitably be a mountain of paperwork to complete and hoops to jump through – plus none of us owned a Jeep that actually worked!

The Ironman Challenge France is a superb event, with technically demanding rocks, tumbling streams, thick wooded hillsides, generous scree and wicked graded sections, seasoned with a massed start and a truely spectacular finish. A must for all super hero 4×4 competitors…

Words and photography: Alan Coutts

Soft morning light flooded the cabin as the Citroen 4×4 climbed the spiralling Col des Tourettes, 1126 metres of pass laced with pebbles and rocks; just over the narrow summit road, hairpins tumble down to Montmorin, a village of honey coloured stone walls and gentle meadows that hosted the premier Ironman Challenge France. 

Previously called the X-Trem Challenge France, the Ironman brought teams from England, France, Germany, Switzerland, Italy and Poland to pit their skills at one of the most technically renowned challenges on the circuit. The action started after dinner on Thursday when crews headed into the glowering forests for the start of section A or B night stages, to collect as many punches as they could. It was an evil night of numbing cold on the steep hillsides, with sections lurking in cold mountain streams, or among rocks and mud interlaced with sturdy trees standing like silent sentinels. Competition ceased at 2am when the service crews took over to prepare their cars ready for a 10am line up on the Friday morning. La Rascasse the restaurant took care of the body, but the mind was soothed by a blessing for a safe event from the impressively modest local priest. This is just one of the moments that made the Ironman different – despite rollovers, synth ropes breaking and melting, cars drowning and electro mechanical failures of many kinds, no one was injured.

EXMOOR IS A BEAUTIFUL PLACE, BUT, SADLY, ITS TRACKS ARE CLOSED TO VEHICULAR TRAFFIC. BUT YOU CAN ENJOY SOME OF THEM IN YOUR 4X4 ON A FOREST DRIVE, COURTESY OF A GENEROUS AND, WE THINK, FANTASTIC LANDOWNER

Words and photography: Hils Everitt

These days, Devon is not known for its abundance of off-roading adventures as most of its routes were reclassified under the NERC bill back in 2006. Exmoor was full of brilliant routes which are now closed to the off-tarmac fraternity, but there is a way that you can explore a beautiful corner of Devon, and perfectly legally.

Thanks to a local landowner, Mr William Theed, giving his permission after a request from Lanes, Tracks and Trails Greenlane Adventures, there are now around 100 miles of Exmoor Forest available to you and your 4×4 on a guided Forest Drive. The idea came to Jim Hancock, boss at LTTGA, and his fellow competitors, after taking part in the Annual Exmoor Jaunt and Challenge. Run in aid of the Wooden Spoon Charity, the ‘Jaunt’ is based in Wheddon Cross and offers two-day family 4×4 fun in the Exmoor Countryside with special off-road sections in Exmoor National Park; the ‘Challenge’ is a bit more technical, requiring good off-roading skills and at least one winch per team…say no more.

Northumberland is often overlooked as a tourist destination, but when joining the excellent Kielder 4×4 Safari that weaves along the tracks of The Forestry Commission’s Kielder Forest, we discovered a hidden gem

Words and photography: Hils Everitt

A heavy mist hung over the rich hues of the bracken and pine trees, blocking out what would have been a stunning view over the Kielder Forest. But we were not in poor humour – yes, OK, we lacked the magnificent vista, but we were enjoying a superb day out on the normally out-of-bounds forestry tracks of the northernmost reaches of England, cosseted in the warmth of our 4x4s as we sauntered along thoroughfares lined with the most lavish colours of autumn.

Northumberland is, sadly, one of those counties that gets rather forgotten, sitting as it does at the farthest tip of England, and is often regarded as just ‘that bleak bit’ that you bypass on the way to the lowlands and, ultimately, highlands of bonny Scotland. This is border country, often associated either with the industrial sprawl of Tyneside or the bleak moorland of the Cheviots Hills, which many dismiss to their detriment. Well, Northumberland is equally bonny. Fair enough, it may not boast huge mountain ranges and an abundance of eerily atmospheric lochs, nor a mythical (or not?) monster, but it certainly hides delights that are worthy of the attention of anyone who loves the outdoors and enjoys beautiful scenery.

It’s closer to home, so why not consider Northern Europe? Your guide is Ian Woolley and he can take you in search of those mystical Northern Lights

Photography: Ros Woodham

There are few people who do not have witnessing the Aurora Borealis on their life’s wish list. Throw in winter wonderland landscapes straight from a postcard and the chance to visit the Ice Hotel or a snowmobile trip across the tundra and it is easy to see how attractive Scandinavia is as a winter overlanding destination.

However, most would view a trip into this beautiful, yet hostile, environment with a certain amount of trepidation. We intend to change that and give you a taste of what a traveller of Northern Sweden and Norway can expect (beyond Schnapps and saunas!) and what vehicle modifications they should consider.

For any trip, a solid, thoroughly serviced vehicle is an essential starting point along with comprehensive European car insurance. For a trip like this you need a well running vehicle. Impurities in the coolant mixture degrade its performance, so as part of your pre-trip service, it is worth flushing your coolant and refilling using a more highly concentrated mix. For my own vehicle, a 2008 Land Rover Utility, the Texaco Havoline derived coolant is usually mixed at a concentration of 50% with distilled water. This protects the system down to minus 37degC, which, should be sufficient, but is a little close for comfort to temperatures, which might be experienced. A 60% mix will protect below minus 55degC, which provides plenty of margin.

Ash 4×4 hosted the Mitsubishi L200 club’s annual AGM weekend at Hawkestone Follies in Shropshire, providing a feast of off-roading entertainment. We tagged along in our long-term Double Cab Warrior that was crying out for some top action

Words and photography: Hils Everitt

We had been running our long-term Mitsubishi L200 Warrior for some months and it was really time to treat it to some decent off-roading, after buzzing around the motorways and dual carriageways on various magazine jobs.

Pick-up trucks were once generally thought of as dirty, tough utility trucks serving our community making sure we receive the amenities and trade services we need. Nowadays, they are also very much part of the lifestyle 4×4 market and are just as likely to be packed full of gear and kids on a weekend away for some fun. But it is often forgotten just what good off-roaders they can be. They still feature low-range gearboxes, and our Warrior’s low range was crying out to be used in earnest.

Despite all the major changes that have occurred in North Africa over the last year or so, one place remains accessible for the enthusiastic off-roader. But is Morocco the place that you should consider for your next overland trip? Here we offer some first hand experience.

Words and photography: Robert Pepper

Recreational off-roading covers a wide range of activity, from short-range hardcore trips to round-the-world epics. Most people fall somewhere in between, but constraints of time and budget mean that options can be limited.  That’s why Morocco is a popular destination, offering a taste of Africa yet being near enough to Europe to fit within an annual holiday. But what can you expect from such a trip? To find out, I joined Trailmasters on their Draa Valley Expedition, a two-week trek designed for the more experienced off-roader.

A good overland trip is hard to define, but one is factor is the environment, and Morocco does not disappoint with stunning scenery varying from harshly black mountains to ancient, wide dry rivers, salt lakes, forests and narrow, rocky gorges and the Sahara desert with its dunes. Then there’s the driving, consisting primarily of dirt roads in various stages of repair, some rocky sections and small sand dunes, all in general needing high clearance rather than low range. That was enough for interest but not difficult, just the way it should be on a long trek. We had the option to drive Saharan dunes at a campsite, and that provided more of a challenge for those who wanted it.

This is a story that has gone untold for nearly three decades. A group of inexperience Brits tackle the Dark Continent in a group of tired, second-hand, unreliable Unimogs – in search of ancient cave drawings. And adventure. They found both.

Words and photography: Schion Scudamore

This story is about 28 years late for the copy date, but as far as I know, no other account has ever been published in any other mainstream journal. It’s the story of 30 or so people from all walks of life brought together for an ambitious journey to catalogue and record petroglyphs (ancient rock carvings) in the Tibesti Mountains in Northern Chad.

It was all so long ago that you will have to forgive me for any inaccuracies, I kept no diary so this is written from memory with a bit of poetic licence thrown in. The vehicles were bought from the £1000 each we contributed and from numerous sponsors who were supporting the project. It is also a story of a major change in direction of my life as it saw me shift from a career in car design, a dream for many these days, to working for the best part of the next 20 years in the circles of the adventure travel business.