Dune Buggies

Dune buggies are light, open off-road vehicles with big knobbly tyres, long-travel suspension and a full roll cage around the driver. They're built for rough ground like sand, dirt and grass. Driving one means throwing it round a circuit, finding the fastest line through the corners and shaving seconds off your lap time.

The name comes from the sand dunes where people first raced them. Today you'll find buggies tearing round off-road tracks, farm fields and desert rallies all over the world.

The classic beach buggy is a small, open car built for sand and sunshine. A sand rail is a stripped-back frame on wheels, all tubes and engine. Side-by-sides are chunkier off-road vehicles with seats next to each other, used for everything from farm work to racing. Rally buggies and off-road karts sit somewhere in between, built for speed on loose ground.

First comes the safety briefing and a tour of the controls. Your Activity Leader checks your helmet and makes sure your harness is tight. Two hands on the wheel, right foot on the pedals: throttle to go, brake to stop. Then you head out on practice laps to learn how the buggy feels on loose ground.

Once you're settled, the racing tips kick in. Brake before the corner, not halfway round it. Look where you want to go, not at the hay bale you're trying to avoid. Feed the throttle in smoothly on the way out. Drivers usually take turns, finishing with a lap against the clock and a lot of strong opinions about who was fastest.

Yes, you don't need any off-road experience. With a throttle, a brake and a steering wheel, the controls are simple, so you can focus on steering and speed. Just know that it's surprisingly physical. Wrestling the wheel over bumps works your arms, shoulders and core, and plenty of drivers are glad of a breather between laps. Expect dust, adrenaline and a very big grin.

Closed-toe shoes and clothes you don't mind getting dusty or muddy. Tie back long hair so it fits under a helmet, and leave loose scarves and jewellery behind. Bring water, because this is thirsty work.

You might also like Quad Biking, Mountainboarding and Drone Flying.

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