Weekend quad trails on your own land
Offer guided quad rides on farmland you own or have permission to use, at weekends and holidays.
- £8k-25k
- Side hustle
- Own premises
Estimates for a small start in the UK, not guarantees.
Official data
1,758 UK companies in this field, 31% registered in the last 2 years
SIC 77210 “Renting and leasing of recreational and sports goods”. Source: Companies House, November 2026.
What it is
A small fleet of quads and a marked trail on land you own or farm. You run guided sessions by the hour for groups, families and visitors, with a safety briefing and helmets provided.
Your first three steps
- Check with your local council whether you need planning permission for commercial use of the land, and map out a trail with a landowner or tenant agreement if it is not yours
- Get quotes from specialist insurers for public liability and activity cover, and arrange rider training for yourself and any helpers
- Buy or lease 3 to 5 reliable quads plus helmets, then set up a simple online booking page and offer discounted first sessions to local groups and holiday lets
Who pays
Holidaymakers, stag and hen groups, birthday parties, families and corporate team days from nearby towns and tourist areas.
How it makes money
A fixed price per rider for a one-hour or half-day guided session, with group discounts and extras like photos or a package with a farm shop or campsite.
Skills that help
- Confident quad rider
- Clear safety briefing and group control
- Basic vehicle maintenance
- Friendly customer service
Watch out for
- Specialist insurance, as standard public liability may exclude quad activities
- Planning permission and any limits on commercial use or the number of event days, so check with your council
- Risk assessments, rider briefings and age and weight limits, with parental consent for under 18s
- Quads used off-road only, unless registered and legal for the road
- Noise complaints from neighbours and damage to the land in wet weather
- Employer's liability insurance if you take on staff
Deep research report · UK
Everything you need to start: weekend quad trails on your own land
Researched with live web search for United Kingdom: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.
- Startup costs with real prices
- Licences, registration and rules
- Pricing: what others charge
- Break-even example
- Finding your first customers
- 30-day launch plan
- Risks and how to reduce them
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to start a quad bike trail business?
Startup costs are typically around £8,000 to £25,000, depending on how many quads you buy, the safety gear and how much trail preparation your land needs. These are estimates, and specialist insurance is a cost to factor in.
How much can a farm quad trail business earn?
Monthly revenue is typically around £1,500 to £7,500, depending on how many sessions you run, group sizes and the season. This is an estimate, not profit. Wet weather and weekend-only demand can affect bookings.
What should I check before offering quad rides?
Check that your insurance covers quad activities, as standard public liability may exclude them. Also check planning permission and limits on commercial use with your council, plus risk assessments, age and weight limits, and parental consent for under 18s.
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Photo: kasjanf on Pixabay