TO borrow a phrase from Jeremy Clarkson - possibly the best Land Rover Experience "in the world" has opened at Broughton Hall.

However, the Eshton owners of the franchise - who have just moved over from Coniston Cold - are far removed from harum-scarum Top Gear.

Off road driving may well be fun - but what they do is also potentially very dangerous, and for that reason, it is strictly controlled with speeds only ever reaching 2mph.

Land Rover North Yorkshire is one of just seven centres in the UK and after 13 years at Coniston Hotel has just re-opened at the 3,000-acre Broughton Hall estate.

A joint investment of more than £1 million from franchisees Robina and Ian Farnell and estate chairman Roger Tempest has seen the centre blend almost seamlessly into the fantastic landscape.

Redundant buildings at Yellison Farm - formerly a goat farm - have been brought back into use, while off road tracks have been created on parts of the estate, including along parts of the former railway.

It does, says Ian - whose family owned Farnell Land Rover - tick all the boxes of the ideal Land Rover Experience.

"I would say it is definitely world class, one has just opened in Bahrain, but it terms of ticking all the right boxes, ours does just that," he said.

"We have a lovely building, we have an accessible location, exciting terrain and fantastic views with a real wow factor."

Getting the driving experience to Broughton has been several months in the planning, with permission finally approved by Craven District Council towards the end of May.

A new entrance has been opened up, off the A59, and separate from Broughton Hall itself, and from the business park.

Customers - whether individuals seeking a thrill, new Land Rover owners wanting to know what their vehicle is capable of, or corporate clients - arrive at the grand gates and call ahead for them to be opened remotely.

They then take a scenic route along an old road to the estate to Yellison Farm, where they sign in at the restored former barn, with its far reaching views that stretch all the way to Ingleborough.

Mr Tempest, chairman of the Broughton Hall Estate, said he was delighted with its latest addition.

"Having the Land Rover Experience here on the estate is wonderful news – everyone seems over the moon with how it has worked out," he said.

"A lot of work by many people has resulted in a range of redundant historic buildings being brought back to life - the whole thing has been sympathetically absorbed into the landscape and feels like it has been here a lifetime already."

The centre employs 25 full and part-time people and is open all the year round - apart from bank holidays, but even then it will open for special requests.

Vehicles are changed every six months - whether they need to be or not - so will always be the latest, up to the minute models.

It may also be one of the last places to get to drive a Land Rover Defender - before they finally go out of production in December, after being the farmers' vehicle of choice for almost 70 years.

Everyone who takes part is accompanied by an instructor - the centre has both men and women - with some women drivers preferring a woman to show them what to do.

Instructors are constantly given refresher training sessions, with Ian only recently returned from the Middle East, where he tackled driving on sand.

"What we do here is show people what the cars are capable of. The kind of things they will do, they will probably never do again - but at least they know what they can do," said Ian.

The centre also trains drivers who are required as part of their work to drive off-road, including emergency services people, mountain rescue and government agencies, as well as teaching farmers the art of pulling trailers or horse boxes over difficult terrain.

Drivers often come for more than one day, and so are housed in the estate's holiday cottages dotted around the estate.

"With all the employment opportunities at the centre and all the guests already using the hospitality and accommodation facilities on the estate it should help add to our communities dynamic and daily life positively," said Mr Tempest.

"Training people how to drive Land Rover vehicles and learning how to be be responsible with the land will be a great new facility for our customers and guests - and here at Broughton we have been in the hospitality business for over 900 years. "

Hed added: "It has been a pleasure to deal with Land Rover and their network and good to know nationally and internationally it will be a flagship experience centre for them."

Mike Wright, managing director of Land Rover UK, said: "This is a very exciting development for Land Rover, giving our customer increased confidence in all driving conditions, knowing that they have experienced what their vehicle is capable of.

"The Land Rover Experience North Yorkshire offers a challenging and rewarding experience and teaches safe and responsible off-road driving. Above all, it's fun, but serious fun."