What Can I Expect

Drive a combine harvester in Wiltshire! Yep, you did read that right. We have found someone willing to let you have a go in their very expensive combine harvesting machine. And it's as impressive as you'll have always imagined!

The John Deere T600 Hillmaster is a total harvesting overlord. This huge machine means business. Sitting pretty with that distinctive bright green and yellow John Deere livery, this combine weighs in at 15 tons. The cutting head is a whopping 25ft wide and weighs 2.5 tons alone.

Under the bonnet (do combine harvesters even have bonnets?) is a 9l, six cylinder, twin-turbo engine worthy of any supercar. All that torque and power combines to be a super-efficient harvesting machine out in the fields of this training farm near Devizes in Wiltshire.

Just getting up close to one of these behemoths is impressive, so imagine the excitement when you climb into that cab. Spacious, comfortable and full of driver aids such as GPS, yield mapping and auto steer, it's an amazing office!

As well as driving this Wiltshire's training school's combine harvester, you'll also learn more about the controls. Hear the clatter of the thresher when you start it up. Learn how to raise and lower the cutting head. Open up the ‘bomb doors' of the vast grain tank behind your cab and have a go at rotating the auger (that's the orientable ‘pipe' that loads the grain into the grain trailer).

You'll also be shown the GPS functions, auto steer technology and yield mapping abilities of these John Deeres, which make the long, tiring and intense job of harvesting a lot easier. Oh and you can raise the whole machine up and down, which is very cool too!

A word of advice if you want to drive a combine harvester in Wiltshire: make sure you get booked in well in advance, as these agricultural plant experiences are hugely popular - and they are not available at harvest time, as the John Deere six series is doing its day job of reaping what has been sown in the fields of Devizes!

When Is It Available

• Selected weekday dates between November and June
• Generally 2 dates available per month
• Due to popularity please book in advance to avoid disappointment

Please note: This experience is fully booked for 2024.  Bookings are available from January 2025 onwards (updated 22/10/24)

Suitable For

• Minimum age 16
• Under 18s must be accompanied on site by an adult
• A good general level of fitness is required
• Participants should be able to climb the steps to get on board

Spectators

• Spectators are welcome
• Please note: Children under 8 are not permitted due to safety
• Please note: dogs are not permitted on site

Anything Else

• Please note this is a driving experience and participants will not be cutting crops