Gleneagles Off-Road Driving

Gleneagles, the hotel estate at Auchterarder in Perthshire, runs its own off road driving school on two purpose built courses, laid out by what the hotel calls some of Britain's leading off road specialists. The headline drive is a manual Land Rover 110 Defender with an instructor alongside.

There are four machines on the menu. Defender lessons are the full size option and need a full driving licence. Argocats are eight wheel drive, semi amphibious machines that go straight into the water on their own course. The Munro is the electric 4x4 designed and built in Scotland, driven over steep inclines, deep bogs and rough ground. For young kids there are quarter size Land Rover replicas built for Gleneagles, on a junior course of their own.

The Defender, Argocat and Munro drives are sold per vehicle, so up to four people share one session and take turns. Everything is booked through the hotel's Playground Planners, who also put together bespoke days for families, individuals and groups. The hotel, golf and the estate's other country pursuits sit around the courses.

• Land Rover 110 Defender lessons: a manual Defender on two purpose built courses with water splashes, ditches, escalating ridges, gullies and steep gradients. An instructor gives full instruction from the start, so no off road experience is needed.
• Argocats: all terrain, all weather, eight wheel drive machines that float. You drive one on land and into the water on a purpose built course, and up to four drivers swap through one session.
• The Munro: the first electric off road 4x4 built in the UK, designed and engineered in Scotland. The guides give technical instruction before you take it over steep inclines, deep bogs and rough terrain on a course the hotel rates as one of the most challenging in the country.
• Junior Off-Road: quarter size Land Rover replicas built specially for Gleneagles, on a junior off road course, with the child behind the wheel and an instructor teaching them.
• Bespoke adventures: the Playground Planners build personalised off road days for families, individuals and groups.

• Booking is by enquiry through the Playground Planners: 01764 662231 (from the USA 1 866 881 9525), playground.planners@gleneagles.com, or the enquiry forms on the off road driving page. Sessions run at booked times, and the hotel recommends booking leisure activities ahead.

• Land Rover 110 Defender lessons: £650 per vehicle for 1 hour 45 minutes (1 or 2 people) or £935 per vehicle for 2 hours 30 minutes (3 or 4 people). A full driving licence is required.

• Argocats: £199 for 45 minutes (1 driver), £259 for 1 hour (2 drivers), £319 for 1 hour 15 minutes (3 drivers), £379 for 1 hour 30 minutes (4 drivers). Open to adults and children from 10 years of age.

• The Munro: £595 per vehicle for 2 hours, up to 4 guests. Passengers must be over 10 years of age and must not need a car seat.

• Junior Off-Road: for children aged 3 to 8 years. £70 per person for a 20 minute taster or £140 per person for a 45 minute lesson.

• All prices exclude a 12.5% discretionary service charge.

• Add ons: none are sold on top of the session prices, no photo or video package, extra time or kit hire. Bespoke itineraries from the Playground Planners are priced on enquiry.

• Cancellation: the hotel's terms charge 100% of the activity price unless it is cancelled with at least 24 hours notice.

• Getting there: Gleneagles has its own railway station on the London to Inverness line, which the hotel puts at under 2 minutes from the hotel, with a complimentary chauffeur transfer to the hotel. Parking is free for residents and visitors, signposted from the main gate. If a sat nav does not recognise PH3 1NF, the hotel gives PH3 1SH.

• Last verified: 18 October 2026
• Official link: https://gleneagles.com/pursuits/off-road-driving/