ELLIE CARTWRIGHT, BICESTER
@ELLIEACTIONFILMS
OCCUPATION: Founder of Wanderlust Action Films
MY DRIVE: Defender 110 called ‘Lara’
FAVOURITE DESTINATION: Elan Valley Wales, Lake District
DREAM LAND ROVER TRIP: Northumberland
READY FOR ADVENTURE: As an adventure photographer and filmmaker, Ellie is no stranger to the outdoors - one of the reasons she chose to buy her Land Rover Defender 110. ‘All my life, I’ve lived vicariously through other people doing awesome things,’ Ellie tells us, ‘so I wanted to start doing things for me. I bought the Land Rover last year from a friend; his family own quite a few Land Rovers, including two 110s and a Spectre. I remember seeing Lara for the first time and I just loved her – I named her after Lara Croft, because she looks so adventure-ready!’
As an ambassador for Red Paddle Co, Ellie enjoys stand-up paddle boarding adventures, something Lara the Landy comes in useful for. ‘I originally used a Jeep Wrangler as my adventure vehicle,’ Ellie explains. ‘I bought Lara so that I could convert her into a campervan and use her for adventures and off-roading shoots. It’s great to have a vehicle that I can fit everything in and take on British-based adventures.’
Ellie also plans to rent Lara out this summer, as soon as road trips are viable again. The campervan conversion was a week-long process, with a Scandinavian design twist. ‘I wanted something which was different to most 110s,’ Ellie says. ‘There’s a lot of woodwork inside with embossed designs and pine, I just wanted it to look comfortable and welcoming.’
‘Most people have a big drawer that comes out the back which fits an inflatable mattress, but I wanted a design which meant you could actually get in the Defender and sit down. Lara has an L-shape design behind the seats and down the sides, all of which is lift-up storage. There are two slats which you can put out in the galley – that’s the bed. I also wanted the kitchen to be accessible from the outside, so we put in a cupboard to hold all the cooking stuff and we’re planning on installing a little fold-out table as a worktop. Essentially, I wanted the main body of the vehicle to feel like a campervan as opposed to a big drawer with your stuff in it.’
COMMUNITY:
Despite enjoying the rugged road of adventure, Ellie is aware it’s not for everybody – although Lara might be able to help with that. ‘Because I knew I was renting her out, I wanted to appeal to the people who don’t go down the road-less-travelled, but maybe just want to dip their toes into the adventurous lifestyle that a Land Rover can provide,’ she explains. ‘That’s why I wanted a campervan conversion, so people have the option to sleep in the Land Rover rather than have a roof-top tent– although I personally love them!’
FAVOURITE TRIP:
Having taken so many trips, Ellie has a few favourites to tell us about, although the Elan Valley in Wales is towards the top.
‘It was absolutely beautiful,’ she says, ‘and it was Lara’s first kitted-out adventure. She’s been up to the Lakes previously too, and Brighton.
‘It’s great to take her on a trip and stay in
her because you realise what else she needs; she’s even got a projector now so you can sit inside and watch Netflix when the campfire goes out!’
Ellie also plans on taking her 110 to the Lake District: ‘That’s another favourite spot of mine. I especially love driving the Old Coach Road; it has amazing panoramic views.’
DREAM DESTINATION:
For Ellie, the location which tops it all is Northumberland.
‘I’m planning on taking her there soon,’ Ellie tells us. ‘It’s really at the top of my dream destination list. There’s an off-road track through Kielder National Forest called the Kielder Forest Drive, which is a spectacular 12-mile stretch and one of England’s highest roads with incredible sky views over all of Northumberland.
‘The really cool thing about Kielder is that there are so many scenic spots where you can park up, you can avoid the campsite, and it’s just you and the car.’
‘I think having a 4x4 means you think consciously about where in Britain you can go,’ Ellie tells us, ‘and that makes you more open to adventure.
‘It’s a privilege to drive along and see places that you wouldn’t visit if you didn’t have a vehicle like Lara to take you there. Being around nature can be quite restorative, so knowing you could drive there for a couple of days is just fantastic.’