In van rode wildly around lake, avoiding the water (8)
I believe the answer is:
overland
'avoiding the water' is the definition.
(travelling by land rather than water)
I can't explain the rest of the clue.
(Other definitions for overland that I've seen before include "Lover Dan (anag.)" , "By road or rail" , "Cross-country" , "By a route not involving sea or air travel" , "Not by water or air" .)