I have written about my passion for cars before.

Recently I wrote about delving under the bonnet, getting to grips with the mechanics of a Vauxhall Vectra.

This time I'm in the driving seat - and I'm more than prepared for what I anticipate to be a thrilling experience.

Clad in orange waterproofs and wellies borrowed from my mum, who always has everything to hand, I feel I've erred too far on the side of caution for off-road driving. Well, I'm hardly going to be conquering the hilly course with its steep twists and turns and water courses in a convertible!

Considering that it has rained heavily for the past few days and areas have been flooded, I decide to sport my waterproof kit as a precaution, raising a smile from my mentor for the morning, Rebbecca Hoare, who clearly thought I was kidding about my attire until I emerged from the changing room looking like I'd been Tangoed'!

Rebbecca is a rarity within the world of 4x4 off-roading. There aren't many females in the country running off-road activity centres.

She has been involved in the Parkwood Off Road Centre, in the pretty village of Tong, near Bradford, for the best part of 25 years since her father devoted 100 acres of concealed woodland within his 200-acre farm to allowing off-road enthusiasts and emergency service drivers to learn to drive safely.

My initial perception was of a thrill-seeking experience in some monster wheels tearing up hills and splashing through water at speed.

But let me assure you, there's no carving up this beautiful countryside. Rebbecca and her family simply wouldn't allow it. She often brings her young son, William, on walks through the stunning woodland where squirrels sprint up trees and birds flutter under the canopy. Restricted areas protect parts of this haven to encourage flora and fauna.

Says Rebbecca: "We only use the tracks that are here and we don't drive over anything else. When I see the bluebells out I shut those areas off. This site is very beautiful and I want it to stay that way. People don't come in here and do what they want, they have a map and it's marshalled."

The demo drive that Rebbecca conducts with the many clients who come to Parkwood is surprisingly slow and serene, enabling me to see her wheels at work. The Land Rover Discovery 300 Tdi - my vehicle for the morning - is what Rebbecca fondly refers to as her multi-purpose' vehicle.

She does the shopping and the school run in it and, yes, she's aware of the bad press 4x4s have had. But whereas for some drivers the 4x4 may be a status of their material success, Rebbecca is using hers for its intended purpose - driving on rough terrain.

She became a qualified instructor a decade ago so she knows how to use the sturdy vehicle and is aware of its capabilities. I know I'm in safe hands.

But I'm also very nervous at the prospect of getting behind the wheel of her car. I'm cautious in my own car, so driving someone else's, navigating rocky roads, steep hills and flowing streams, is a huge responsibility.

After the demo drive and safety briefing I take the wheel with some trepidation. It feels like a tank compared to my little Polo. While mine is a sturdy and safe little motor, I knew the Discovery's height and sheer size would give me complete protection.

The two gear sticks cause a little confusion; the smaller stick at the front of the gearbox allows you to select a gear to suit the terrain. Low Box gives you overall control of the vehicle and Diff Lock locks the front and rear axle allowing all four wheels to travel at different speeds in situations where you need extreme traction.

Driving at less than 10mph, at times I felt I was going to stop. I daren't top up the power through fear of slipping and sliding but, somehow, the might of this mechanic warrior kicks in, guiding me smoothly along rocky tracks and water flowing crevices. Who needs speed for a thrill-seeking experience?

"It's pure adrenaline at 4mph!" smiles Rebbecca. "You get the same rush as if you're driving a rally car. It's just the thrill of it."

The failed hill start is something she teaches all her off-roading students. It's one of those vital manoeuvres you need to put into practice if you stall on a steep hill. Rebbecca asks me to stop half way up the hill I'm navigating. My instinct tells me to use my handbrake but I'm not supposed to, this manoeuvre involves mastering the art of keeping your feet on the art of keeping your feet on the clutch and brake on a hill, slipping into reverse and slowly releasing the pedals to get you safely back down.

After conquering that, Rebbecca tells me I'm ready to tackle the big one. As we round the corner and creep through some water deep enough to submerge the vehicle's running boards, I catch site of a steep muddy track covered with loose rocks. "I'll never make it," I mutter to myself.

But Rebbecca clearly has confidence for both of us. "Now press on the power, go on, go for it, a bit more," she tells me.

And here we are, peeking the summit without the need to put our safety manoeuvre into practice. I can't believe it.

Rebbecca has faith in her wheels. She was 17 when she bought her first Land Rover 90. It was old and, despite needing plenty of TLC, she loved it and has driven Land Rovers ever since.

It seems the obsession with this particular breed of 4x4 runs in the family. The interest in off-roading stems from her father and brother's interest in off-road bike trials and she says it was probably the main impetus for starting her centre, rated as one of the best in the UK.

As well as offering tuition, Parkwood hosts corporate and group events. Such is its reputation, the emergency services use it to put their 4x4s through their paces; dealerships bring customers to show off the true potential of the shiny 4x4s in their showrooms, and manufacturers use it to test new tyres and terrain systems.

Rebbecca is keen to encourage families too. The Tong Fest on August 18 and 19 is an annual 4x4 off-road weekend geared towards families. It also raises the profile of what goes on down here.

Says Rebbecca: "Some people think you're driving at speed pumping lots of smoke out into the environment and wrecking everything but it's not like that."

I can vouch for that and I can also say what an informative and thrilling experience it was. I even got a certificate!

But, honestly, how did I do? "You had good overall control of the vehicle; you listened to your instructions and followed them. You were interested in it as well and interested in doing it correctly," says Rebbecca.

  • Parkwood Outdoors Ltd is in Home Farm, Tong Village, Bradford. For more information call 0113 285 4356 or visit www.parkwood4x4.co.uk; or www.rubi-tong.co.uk - the website for Parkwood's rock driving course, believed to be the only one of its kind in the UK.