Archery

Most companies require a minimum age of 7-8 years old

Archery is perhaps one of our oldest outdoor activities, with the earliest signs of humans using a bow and arrow dating back to around 10,000 B.C.

Originally used for hunting and combat, the humble bow and arrow has now evolved into tools for recreational sport. In recreational archery, participants aim to fire a bow at a target, with scores awarded according to the proximity of the arrow to the centre of the target.

What Archery Involves

A typical target archery session with an activity company will usually involve some basic tuition and then some target practice. You will then be invited to compete with other participants to see who can get the highest score. In field and combat archery you will be given a selection of dummy arrows and will need to find targets (model animals or other players) in an large open area.

Archery is suitable for almost everyone, with most activity companies requiring a minimum age of 7-8 years old. Some centres also offer indoor archery, suitable for those rainy days.

What to Wear and Bring

You should wear comfortable clothing that is suitable for the weather conditions, and covered shoes. Sandals and other open-toed shoes are not advisable due to the possibility of you dropping arrows on your feet. Archery often involves standing in open ground for long periods of time so if it is a sunny day you will need sun cream.

Where to Do Archery in the Lake District

There are plenty of activity companies offering archery at their centres. Some are easier to get to than others, and some have better facilities such as toilets, cafés, etc., so we recommend you do your research, especially as most will require advanced booking. Not every company offers field and combat archery.