4×4 Stag Do

A 4×4 off roading stag do puts the lads behind the wheel of a proper off-road vehicle and points them at terrain no sensible driver would attempt. Steep climbs, deep ruts, water crossings and enough mud to lose a wellie in. An instructor sits beside you, tells you which gear to use and tries not to wince as you aim straight for the biggest puddle.

It’s slower than you might expect. Off roading rewards patience and a light right foot more than raw speed, and there’s real skill in getting a heavy vehicle up a slope without sliding back down it. Watching your mates work that out is half the entertainment.

It’s a great one for mixed groups. You don’t need to be fit and you don’t need to be brave, just able to drive. The petrolheads will love the technical side, and everyone else will enjoy the bit where someone gets stuck. Somebody always gets stuck.

It gives you a natural competition too. Some venues run timed courses or challenges, so you can crown a winner and hand the stag a booby prize. Strap the action camera to him and you’ll have footage of every stall and spin for the speech.

If you want more pace, rage buggies are nippier and messier. If you want something heavier, tank driving is the next step up, and nobody will argue with you on the road.

• Old clothes and boots. You’ll get muddy even inside the car, because nobody can resist getting out to look at the stuck wheel.
• A change and a towel. You’ll want a shower and something clean before the evening.
• Driving licence. Most venues will want to see a valid licence. Check with the provider when you book.
• A clear head. No drinking until the keys are handed back. It saves your stamina for later anyway.

Every off road course has one obstacle everyone dreads, usually a steep descent or a water crossing that looks deeper than it is. Give that one to the stag. Ask the instructor which bit tends to catch people out, and make sure he goes first with the rest of the group lined up at the side, phones out.

If he gets through cleanly, fair play, he’s earned his pint. If he gets stuck, you’ve got the best clip of the weekend. Either way his dignity takes a knock, but it was never going to survive the weekend anyway.

Off road centres tend to be out in the countryside, so book a city base nearby. Sheffield sits right next to the Peak District, and Cardiff has the Welsh valleys on its doorstep. Add clay pigeon shooting to the same day for a proper country outing, then find a pub with a fire. If you’d rather someone else pulled it all together, our concierge service can plan the lot.