When the Mole leaves his spring-cleaning and heads into the open air, he embarks on a series of exhilarating adventures with his friends: the laid-back Ratty, the gruff yet kindly Badger and the self-satisfied, irrepressible Mr. Toad. The implusive Toad leads the friends from one escapade to the next, from upturned gypsy caravans to stolen motorcars, a daring prison escape and, finally, to a heroic confrontation with the sinister inhabitants of the Wild Wood.