Since the early days of flight, Bristol has played a key role in British aviation. First and Second World War fighter planes and the supersonic airliner Concorde were designed and manufactured at Filton Aerodrome, while the Ministry of Defence procurement and equipment operations have their bases in Bristol in the modern day. Perhaps there’s something about the air of the city which makes it good for flight, and you can find out for yourself by sending some arrows flying with an archery experience.

Bristol’s climate is one of the reasons that it’s great for open-air pursuits. It’s one of the sunniest cities in the UK, with almost 2000 hours of sunshine in a good year, and it’s easy to get away from the hustle and bustle and into the wide open spaces of the West Country landscape by car, public transport or bicycle. Archery itself is a traditional activity which trains the body, eye and mind, but nowadays it’s diversifying to include the action packed team game of Archery Tag, also known as Combat or Battle Archery. Whatever you fancy, you don’t have to travel far from the capital of the Southwest to find fun activities, at attractive prices,with a bow and arrow.

Where are the places to do archery in Bristol?

• North: on the way from the city centre to the airfield at Filton you’ll pass an archery club which welcomes all ages and abilities to experience this sport in a safe but exciting environment. You can take an induction session to find out if this sport is for you, or go with a group for an archery activity complete with balloon and zombie based games. There are even themed experiences, like a Hunger Games shoot which includes the chance to use a Hoyt Buffalo bow - which was the inspiration for Katniss Everdeen’s bow in the film series. Not far away, the Cribbs Causeway shopping mall houses an activity centre with outdoor woodland archery, or crossbow shooting where you aim at 3D targets in the shape of animals. Battle Archery is also offered for a competitive combat game with friends.

• South: you can try Combat archery in the south of the city too. This sport combines elements of paintball and dodgeball with the ancient discipline of archery, and it’s becoming an increasingly popular stag or hen do activity, for a send-off with a difference, but any group can enjoy it, a birthday party, team or coworkers, or organisation like Scouts or Guides.

• Keynsham: just a twenty minute drive towards Bath, Keynsham is a convenient destination for a top quality experience. If you want to try your hand at classic bow and arrow shooting, there are two archery clubs in the area which organise have-a-go sessions for first timers and can welcome anyone who feels hooked to take a beginner’s course afterwards. Or for a fun recreation of mediaeval warfare, Battle Archery is the activity for you. But don’t worry, the safety arrows that you’ll use in this game are much less sharp than the ones that English Longbowmen used, in fact they’re harmless.

• Emersons Green: this suburb spills out into the Gloucestershire countryside, where you’ll find outdoor ranges where you can enjoy an introduction to this sport, an activity with a group, or, if this isn’t your first time, hone your skills. You can expect friendly and professional guidance, top quality equipment and well designed ranges in a quiet semi rural area here, just 7 miles from the city centre.

Requirements to do this activity

Recent box office hits like The Hunger Games have made archery cool, but the themes of the series of films, in which teenagers have to fight for their lives in a cruel game, aren’t something we want to imitate. Luckily, in Bristol the stakes aren’t so high. No one is forced to take part - and if they do, they’re not putting their lives at risk. Teenagers can enjoy as a fun activity around the city, while some ranges welcome younger children to try it too. Depending on the size and pull weight of the bows on offer, kids older than 6 can shoot on the ranges, and there are even some activities that 3 year olds can take part in. Crossbows on the other hand are only for over 16s, because releasing a bolt from the bow causes recoil, in the same way as firing a gun.

When it comes to Archery Tag, it’s not just the bows that need to be taken into account. You’ll use safety arrows with foam tips, so they don’t hurt if they hit you, but it’s important to protect your eyes and face. Some providers in Bristol have the correct face-mask sizes for adults, but there are also opportunities for children as young as 8 to get involved at some sites. One important thing to say is that children will never play alongside or against adults in the same game!

How long does an experience last?

Although it won’t be enough time for you to become a bowmaster, a 30 minute session will give you a taste of what this sport is all about so that you can decide whether or not you’re going to turn it into a hobby. If that sounds short, you can find taster sessions that last an hour as well - any longer and your arm might start to ache! Group activities also usually last 50 minutes to an hour, for the same reason.

A single game of Archery Tag, like a game of dodgeball, isn’t very long - maybe 10 or 15 minutes. But if you come for Battle Archery, you’ll take part in several games over the course of a 1 hour or 90 minute session. If your group is big enough, you can be split up into enough teams to organise a mini league or tournament - you’ll have to pull together to be crowned champions of the arena!

This activity is both ancient and modern, calm and chaotic, for young and old, and guaranteed fun. Book a session and let the excitement commence!