Land Rover Adventures

29/12/2024

Today we left Finland and crossed into Norway to start our final ascent tomorrow.

The roads on the final stretch were arrow straight with a fresh dusting of snow, on top of compacted snow & ice.

Steady speeds of around 100kph were the norm, and not nearly as terrifying as that would have been in the UK!

Arived at the hotel ahead of schedule, so had some rather expensive beers and went out for Reindeer pizza!

28/12/2024

Today, the sun barely peeked above the horizon, though we still had a few hours of daylight to capture some photos. We crossed into the Arctic Circle this evening and will likely not see the sun rise significantly above the horizon for several days until we begin our return journey.

We encountered our French counterparts in their Rugby World Cup 2023 Limited Edition Defender. Our 75th Anniversary Edition Defender was green with envy, particularly regarding the extra luggage space!

The drive was an absolute grind, with the roads constantly transitioning from tarmac to ice to compacted snow, demanding our full attention at all times.

27/12/2024

Into Sweden, many petrol station hot-dogs consumed. And many miles covered.

Absolutely beautiful scenery, we'll lose the light as we continue north, so nice to take in the views now - the Arctic Circle starts in about 200 miles, we'll cross into that tomorrow.

Our destination: Sodankylä, Lapland.

26/12/2024

Land Rover Adventures: It's Not About the Money, It's About the Memories

We don't do this for sponsorships. We don't do this for fame. We do this for the friendships and the unforgettable experiences that come with exploring the world in our beloved Land Rovers.

From the haunting beauty of Chernobyl to the breathtaking landscapes of the Alps, from the rugged charm of Gibraltar to the midnight sun in Tromso and the exhilarating journey to Nordkapp, every trip is a chapter in an incredible adventure.

We've shared laughter, overcome challenges, and created memories that will last a lifetime. It's about the camaraderie, the shared sense of wonder, and the thrill of the unknown.

So, why do we do it? Because there's nothing quite like the feeling of freedom on the open road, with your friends by your side, whether old or brand new, exploring the world in a way that most people only dream of.

26/12/2024

A fairly long day today, about 7 hours driving to get to Stockholm (to pick up a co-driver)

Umeå tomorrow, where we should start to see decent snow coverage. ❄️ 🌨️

25/12/2024

After 'Christmassing' in the German Black Forest, we now start heading north, heading up through Sweden tomorrow.

Already had a fair amount of snow in Germany which was an unexpected and pleasant surprise.

Followed by a session on the Autobahns which was absolutely terrifying as usual, the winter tyres don't instill a lot of confidence!

Nordkapp, here we come!

15/12/2024

Credit: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1B6QqZ1ePa/

Enjoy our short film capturing the exhilarating BAJA Morocco extreme desert rally. Our seasoned driver teams, who have proven themselves across the UK and EU Championships in the Defender Rally Series over the past few years, rose to the challenge of their first desert rally raid—culminating in a 1-2 podium finish for the Beecroft brothers!

We’re proud to share the story of their remarkable journey, starting with our immersive Desert Rally Masterclass and culminating in the intense competition of Baja Morocco. The Masterclass laid the groundwork for success, equipping our teams with the vital desert rally skills needed to tackle one of the most formidable challenges they have faced.

Over 1,200 km of demanding desert terrain and blistering 42-degree heat awaited them, along with the added test of night racing. Competing against specialist racing vehicles, our teams demonstrated resilience, skill, and unwavering determination—qualities built over years of dedication to the Defender Rally Series.

Calum McKechnie, General Manager of Bowler, reflected, “It was a pleasure to witness the achievements of all our driver teams. This event tested their skills to the limit and created memories that will last a lifetime. Congratulations to the Beecroft brothers for an outstanding result in their first desert rally.”

Dave Marsh, Head of Motorsport at Bowler, added, “The intensity of Baja Morocco was significantly greater than anything our customers had experienced before. After 3 years of our Driver Development Pathway and the pre-event Masterclass, they were well-prepared for the challenges the desert delivered, and they handled it brilliantly. We’re proud to see everyone return safe, elated, and celebrating their outstanding accomplishments.”

Watch the full event overview film to follow our teams’ journey and their triumphant return from the desert.

A special thanks to the Bowler team, technicians, and support crews for their tremendous efforts, which contributed to the event’s success, and to our partners for their invaluable support.

Defender Rally Series Partnered with Tata Elxsi

Castrol

BFGoodrich Tires Moorgate Finance AR Signs Ltd

26/11/2024

Built for the world's toughest terrain.

Ready for the world's toughest race.

Defender x Dakar.

Official partner in 2025. Official contender in 2026.

24/11/2024

Let's see your wet Land Rovers - hopefully all in a better state than this unlucky Disco. ☔

23/11/2024

What's so hard to understand?

01/11/2024

No means no.

18/10/2024

😔

https://www.facebook.com/share/PaahDTVJdFTrPKJQ/

the sad news that Bowler Motors will be closing its doors really brings it home that you never know what is going to happen next.

An amazing set of vehicles that we are always excited to see turn up in the car park whether it be themselves collecting bits and pieces, or a private customer turning up in their pride and joy - it really is going to be sad to see them go

Our heart goes out to all of the lovely staff and we wish them all the best for the future when the time comes.

Check out the Derbyshire Live article below:

https://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/news/local-news/jaguar-land-rover-close-derbyshire-9640419

16/10/2024

You only have one life. Live it...

10/10/2024

Who needs to bother with a winter trip to The Arctic Circle when we have the northern lights right here in the UK!?

However, if you missed them this evening, don't worry, we still have spaces on our Finland - Arctic trip!

09/10/2024

Wanted: Adventurers!

It's that time of the year again when we invite you on an epic road trip!

Destination: Northern Finland
Dates: 26th Dec - 5th Jan

As always, we make no charge for these trips, they are FREE. That is not to say they are cheap though, we stay in budget hotels at around £50-£70 per night and you could be looking at many, many tanks of diesel (or god help you, petrol), you can make the trip cheaper by bringing more people in your car.

Any stock Land Rover will be capable of this trip but you will need correct "Winter" tyres.

The route isn't fixed yet, other than it will be circular, going up through Sweden and down through Norway, or vise-versa. As this is more "club" than organised trip, you may well be asked to help with certain elements of planning and at a minimum you'll be asked for your feedback and ideas!

If the dates work for you, drop us a PM!

(please only message us if you are genuinely able to come, once we start organising hotels, we'll take a small deposit to secure your space on the trip that will be refunded to you on day 1!)

06/10/2024

After 20 years the L319 Discovery remains one of, if not the most practical & handsome all-in-one 4x4. It's now more affordable than ever. It effortlessly chews up the miles. It's one of the best tow vehicles. It's more than capable off & on the road...It's a van. It's a camper. It's a people carrier. It's safe. It's comfortable. It's proven. It's efficent (in the right hands). It's not ostentatious. It's a modern classic. It's aging like wine. It's the best Discovery (IMHO). Like all Land Rovers it has known quirks but try and find any vehicle that is free from gremlins, let alone one that's such a complete machine. If you're thinking of buying your first Discovery 3 or 4, know your stuff and have a small amount of luck, then I'm sure you'll be blest with special & unique adventures. Of course I'm bias, although I'm fairly sure that effectively any 4x4 fan would be pleasantly surprised or even blown away spending time with or owning an LR3/LR4 (Discovery 3/4).

18/09/2024

Tag someone who overpacks for camping!

14/09/2024

Some awesome Land Rovers at the Adventure Overland Show this year! And some utterly-epic non-LR trucks!