Josh NZ Posted September 19, 2014 Share Posted September 19, 2014 Hi folks. As the title suggests, Ive decided to go on a trip to go see some of the historical LR sites around England. It will be me and the other half. We are coming from NZ for a month max during your summer and want to squeeze as much green oval goodness as possible! So, are there any hidden treasures that we should go see while we are over? I was thinking of trying to get to the heritage centre (Gaydon..?) but not really sure otherwise! I realise this may be a can-opener of sorts but I would appreciate some local knowledge! Thanks in advance, Josh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cynic-al Posted September 20, 2014 Share Posted September 20, 2014 You can do a factory tour, see the Land Rover website. What dates are you coming, someone might be able to suggest a competition or play day you could watch. Btw our summer? That's a can of worms in itself! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CwazyWabbit Posted September 20, 2014 Share Posted September 20, 2014 How about http://www.dunsfoldcollection.co.uk/openweek.php The page is out of date so maybe a call or email to them would be an idea Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Team Idris Posted September 20, 2014 Share Posted September 20, 2014 Yeh, dunsfold would be worth a look There's plenty to fill-in with anyway. Over Iron Bridge way there is the start of the industrial revolution. Dudley Black Country Museum has a working replica of the first steam pumping engine (one scary kettle thing). Also trolley busses. Work it in with some rally maybe? Like August bank holiday at Towyn Wales? That is trains and S1's. There is a green lane run on the Saturday so you could maybe blag a ride? Plus all the other Landy rallies that go on. Then you see stuff that lives in garages the rest of the time! Also there are the many off road events if you want to see landy's getting trashed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh NZ Posted September 20, 2014 Author Share Posted September 20, 2014 Dunsfold! That's what i was trying to remember. That factory tour sounds promising, and rallies or play days would be good to tie into. I would probably be looking around July/august next year but not set in stone just yet! Thanks for the suggestions so far! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheffield Posted September 20, 2014 Share Posted September 20, 2014 The museum at Gaydon Warwickshire has a lot of LR interest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dailysleaze Posted September 20, 2014 Share Posted September 20, 2014 Not so historical, but this time of year has the Peterborough show (this weekend in fact) which is probably the biggest in the UK and a is pilgrimmage of sorts. The weather is generally more stable in September. July/August can't guarantee warm and dry weather these days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
studmuffin Posted September 20, 2014 Share Posted September 20, 2014 Hi Josh Lots of things going on in the UK in the summer. Not just LR events but loads of music festivals etc.. Co-incidentally Lady Studmuffin, myself and youngest son and his girlfriend are holidaying for 3 weeks in NZ in a campervan starting 12th December. Any advice for unmissable places to visit gratefully received for our dream holiday. Aiming to do both islands as its probably the only chance that we can afford. Unfortunately we cannot be travelling in Defenders!!!!! Hope that you have a great hols Cheers Barry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve b Posted September 20, 2014 Share Posted September 20, 2014 I spent 3 months in NZ and had the chance to drive both islands , some highlights were 90 mile beach , cape rienga , the coromandel peninsula ,lake Taupo and Rotorua , Taranaki and the central desert in the north and in the south , the lakes all down the island , Golden bay , the west coast road and all the pass roads to the east , the glacier walks - any dept of conservation - DOC - walk is a good bet , oh yeah and the Kauri forest walks in the north . Lake Wanaka and the road up to Treble cone and the glacier at the end of the trail is also cool . If your insurance allows explore the dirt roads , they are all good and show the best of the country . Treble cone is a bit nuts and a local tour might be the best choice . Whale watching at Kaikoura was a big one for me use the Maori services as they really know the waters and Milford sound and the south west reserve is great - I went to Doubtful sound on a 24 hr overnight cruise and it was magical - glaciai U shaped valleys dropping to the fiords and beech trees to the water line , Dusky dolphins and rainbows primal and real . be prepared for it to change the way you look at life ...the flight over and back is looooong , ooh orbital travel is overdue haha Steveb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwi_110 Posted September 21, 2014 Share Posted September 21, 2014 Steve B you made a pretty good effort with that lot, covered the bulk of it and the best bits for sure, well done Josh NZ I was over there with work back in '09 but only for a week. I managed to get to Billing LRO Show, that was Mecca for me. I just wish I'd had the funds to fill a 40' container with the stuff I saw and shipped it back... Not the least of which would have been a couple of galv'd chassis and a shizzit load of after market suspension kit etc. I did manage to fit a Raptor Console and some bling in my checked baggage. On the way up from London to Little Billing, I stopped in at the Aston Martin service centre in Newport Pagnall, that was worth a quick look. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve b Posted September 21, 2014 Share Posted September 21, 2014 thanks kiwi_110 , there's plenty more to mention - the cities are great and that's from a man who doesn't like cities , Auckland harbour and waterfront , Wellington Te Papa museum , cable car ride/botanic gardens - had 2 weeks in Welly exploring , from the suburbs out on the hills to the city centre . Christchurch was also lovely with lots of historic buildings . It's survival through the earthquake(s) and after tremors is nothing short of a miracle . ....what else... the Able Tasman coastal path - stunning and worth a week of trekking . What I wish I had done was hook up with the various 4x4 clubs as I moved around but even with 3 months there time was tight on the 15000km road trip . As for the UK - a factory trip is good , Dunsfold collection , Gaydon are all good . Isn't the King of the Valleys during july? If you like ancient history there are lots of henges as well as Stonehenge - Avebury is one of my favourites , the Rollrights too , then there's West Kennet long barrow and all the chalk art on the hills . Use the B and C roads to see the real UK and get in touch with a few clubs - you will be able to see various LR events I should think and there must be members on here that would be prepared to show you round their local lanes etc cheers Steveb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LiftedDisco Posted September 21, 2014 Share Posted September 21, 2014 Various folks have mentioned the 'factory tour' which is, of course, bookable as part of the LR Experience process at Solihull. This is a fabulous half day tour and they typically concentrate on the D4 and RR lines where you will see the latest technology... BUT it is really is worth asking to make time for a trip round the Defender line. This is like stepping back in history with components being hand-fettled to fit and worth seeing if your trip coincides with the tail end of Defender production as this is likely to stop at some stage during 2015... literally, a case of see it while you still can. The other place that is worth seeing is kinda tied into Gaydon. Gaydon as the Heritage Centre is a worthwhile trip in it's own right but it also acts as the meeting point for the LR Engineering tour which takes you behind the scenes of next-generation LR. It's a fantastic half day and you get to see the 3D printing techniques used for quick prototyping, the CGI 'cave' where they can cut through virtual cars to see clearances between components etc and they also include a high speed run out on the proving ground. Book it through LR Experience... brilliant time on both tours. Hope this helps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
studmuffin Posted September 21, 2014 Share Posted September 21, 2014 thanks Steve for some great sites to try to add to the agenda. 3 weeks is not enough!!! Our youngest son is studying in Perth so we have been to Aus for the last 3 years but this is the biggy!!!! Its a long long journey but we try to get ourselves in the mindset where the holiday starts the minute we lock our front door to set off. We are so looking forward to this one. Cheers Barry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve b Posted September 21, 2014 Share Posted September 21, 2014 no worries , it's a few more hours from Perth , ironically my trip was supposed to be 3 weeks . I extended my ticket 3 times and used my credit card for the last 10 days.. One thing I haven't said is all the people I met and got to know , however briefly , were really friendly and cool well worth the flight time cheers Steveb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.