Wandering in Wales

With a strong engine lineup, including mild and plug-in hybrid power, seven-seat flexibility in some models, 4-wheel steering, first-class levels of comfort and refinement in a sumptuous cabin, the new Range Rover is simply an outstanding luxury SUV. If you have deep enough pockets to afford one, then good on you.

It was quite a poignant moment when the HSE arrived outside Muddy Towers. For one I’ve always been a massive fan of Range Rovers and was really, really looking forward to driving it, and secondly, due to the way the JLR team are focussing their marketing at the moment, this will be the last JLR product I will get to drive for quite a while, so I’d better head out and about and enjoy it.

On the usual daily commute it’s pretty much what you should expect from a £120k 4x4, an absolute dream, it cocoons you from the outside world in serene opulence and fills parking spots with only millimetres to spare. But the Range Rover is designed for more than the usual commute, despite its ability to waft you along in absolute luxury, it’s also built for adventure, so I took it on a few.

North Wales was decided upon, and the drive down to Ruthin was uneventful. Even the shocking state of the M62 proved sublime with motorway undulations ironed out in a way only a Range Rover can do.

After a quick shop in the centre of Ruthin for some food, I took the B5105 and headed towards Cerrigydrudion. This was the first time I actually felt uncomfortable in the Range Rover, mainly negotiating the narrow section of the road as it’s still a bloody big car. Despite being a Wednesday morning it seemed that all the van drivers and farmers in Wales were out in force, and all heading in the opposite direction, which in turn resulted in some sphincter clenching moments as hedgerows came uncomfortably close to the passenger side.

On wider sections I could relax and begin to enjoy the wonderful stability control, and of course, 350bhp. Arriving at Llyn Brenig I tootled along the dirt road that circumnavigates this huge lake, and after stopping to take the odd photo I pulled over at a favourite spot for some dinner, or lunch if you’re a southerner. The weather up to now had been quite grim with a mixture of light and heavy showers, but as I perched myself on the Range Rover’s tailgate, the clouds dispersed and the sun made an appearance. I do miss having a tailgate to sit on.

I was going to bring a stove with me and some other bits of kitchen ware and cook something fancy, but I cheated and bought a sausage roll, and a turkey and stuffing butty, though I did bring a flask full of coffee.

The dirt roads around Llyn Brenig are just that, nothing arduous, just the odd water filled hole to avoid, and quite often you’ll find plenty of cars parked up as it’s a popular place to fish.

Returning to the B4501, then A543, that forms part of the ‘EVO Triangle’, I headed towards a green lane that would take me to the ‘Lost Lake’. Not sure why it’s called that, maybe because it’s a dead-end and at some point someone forgot that it existed. Trailwise refs are SH8753-06 and SH8753-04, and if you’re on All Terrain UK’s SmartTrail, CW2610 & CW2611 are the refs.

The lane leading up to the Lost Lake isn’t really that demanding, it’s a sustainable gravel track that, with drainage ditches and sharp rocks on either side, can get a bit narrow in places, something to be wary of especially if you’re in a wide 4x4, or you’re driving at night.

For these sections I made good use of the Range Rover’s camera system, especially those under the door mirrors that show the front wheels. They are an absolutely godsend in these situations.

Something else to be aware of, especially if you’re in a smaller 4x4 is that there are a couple of wash outs which could cause some grounding on standard vehicles. Also, if you are venturing alone, you’re unlikely to have any phone signal due to the remoteness, so be prepared.

As a matter of course I raised the HSE’s suspension, and just like any 4x4 riding on air suspension, at any speed over 10mph the Range Rover feels a bit ‘thumpy’.

On a clear day like today, the higher you drive the more spectacular the views become, this is why I love Wales so much, that and the often secluded roads.

After opening and closing many gates I eventually arrived at the lake and pulled to take a few more photos and soak in the view. Despite hints of blue sky, the clouds in the distance looked quite menacing, as I’d later find out.

After devouring my custard tart from Chatwins (my favourite food stop-off in Wales) with another mug of coffee, I set off on foot to have a look at the last section of the lane that takes you to the abandoned farmhouse at the end.

The last few 100 metres or so is boggy, deep and impassable for some smaller 4x4s; the last time I drove it I was in a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon and the muddy water went over bumper - and it’s a tall bumper. I have to admit that the depth of the water didn’t really bother me, I was confident of the Range Rover’s 900mm wading ability, but it was the steep lean and narrowness that had me concerned.

As convinced as I was of getting through and making it to the abandoned farmhouse, the chance of damaging this £120K press car was a constant worry at the back of my mind, so common sense prevailed, and I walked back to the Range Rover a little disappointed, but confident that I’d made the correct decision.

After another ten or so minutes taking in the baron vista I retraced my tyre tracks and headed back towards the A543 and pondered about taking the B4407 over towards Ffestiniog then over to Black Rock Sands. However, as it was getting a on bit, I decided to head back towards Ruthin, then Mold and motorway network up to Lancaster.

With the HSE’s Adaptive Cruise set, and Anita Baker playing via AppleCarPlay, the 3 hour journey passed by in an instant.

Arriving at Middle Sands, the menacing clouds that I'd seen in Wales loomed heavily over Blackpool, and were now slowly making their way towards me - they made for some great photos. Stepping out from the Range Rover I noticed a sudden drop in temperature and the quiet eeriness in the air was suddenly interrupted by cracks of thunder. You expect to see these types of clouds in America, not the north west of England!

Before the impending storm hit I decided to explore a short track that leads to a Bridleway around Sunderland Point, but it wasn’t long before huge droplets of rain and hail began to fall.

Like marbles cascading from a school kids satchel, it was deafening as it hit the Range Rover. Visibility through the windscreen had all but disappeared, as had the track under a vast carpet of white.

Confidence and sure footedness whilst being cocooned in luxury is exactly what Range Rover is about, and as the track ahead vanished under a layer of hail and water, I selected drive and slowly inched my way back towards the beach and firmer ground. The Range Rover didn’t hesitate, nor should it.

My final destination was Sunderland Point, a small village among the marshes on a peninsula between the mouth of the River Lune and Morecambe Bay. It’s also tidal, which means twice a day it’s cut off from the mainland.

By this time the storm had passed but the menacing clouds remained looming overhead and offered more epic photo opportunities, but I didn’t stay as it was getting late and time to head back home.

Kudos has to be given to the Range Rover’s 3.0 litre, 6-cylinder Twin Turbocharged Diesel MHEV power unit, as after todays outing it had achieved an amazing 44.8mpg. Other journeys around town and on the normal commute it achieved around 36mpg, which is still very good, considering its size.

I love old 4x4s with creaky suspension and no mod-cons, you feel like you’re at one with the vehicle whilst fighting untamed terrain. The Range Rover manages to do this cool thing in which you still get a sense of the adventure, yet it cossets you at the same time.

People will buy a Range Rover because of the kudos, some because of it’s status and some because of its workhorse credentials and ability to tow 3.5 tonnes worth of machinery in consummate luxury. Personally, it’s about how it makes me feel. I will always enjoy the lofty driving position and the way it’s able to glide over pot-hole strewn roads, handle bends yet tackle the most arduous of terrains. As one of the original posters said 'A car for all reasons'. It still is.