A PIONEERING business in a remote Ryedale farm is creating hi-spec vehicles for use in expeditions and over rough terrain worldwide.

Trek Overland has developed such an international reputation that its modified vehicles were used in the recent Long Way Down television series starring Ewan McGregor and Charlie Boorman.

The enterprise was started a decade ago when Tim Brennan and his wife, Clare, opted for a complete lifestyle change – he was a hotelier and in catering at Robin Hood’s Bay, and she a biochemist at the Central Science Laboratory, Sand Hutton.

They began by preparing a vehicle for their own use in expeditions.

“We realised that there was no one providing customer service so we saw an opportunity,” said Clare.

They imported roof rack tents and developed their business at Lund Court Farm, Nawton, near Helmsley, modifying and in some cases, completely re-building Land Rovers.

They have now bought another business, Mobile Storage Systems, which specialises in making secure metal boxes for use in the expedition vehicles, providing facilities for food, water and refridgeration.

Now providing employment for five people, the business operates from former farm buildings, and in addition to Long Way Down has prepared vehicles for such organisations as the Born Free Foundation, Land Rover Experience, Scarborough Search and Rescue, Aborventure Training, Wilfreda Beehive, Unimatco, Africa to Ormond Street, Rambling Rat and Street Kids International.

Now recognised as one of the leading expedition preparation specialists in Britain, Trek Overland specialises in Land Rovers dating back to 1948, as well as modern 4x4s, said Clare.

The company also imports Howling Moon tents which are used extensively in expeditions as part of its international market which has seen vehicles sent to South America, Russia, New Zealand, Korea, Alaska and Kenya.

It also carries out customer fabrication on Land Rover Discoveries and Defenders and is on the brink of undertaking vehicle work for the Swedish, Finnish, German, US military markets.