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Six children are jumping in the air between the two archery targets on the archery range. They're all facing the camera and doing fun jumping poses in the sun.

Archery

With each draw of the bowstring, you're not just aiming for the bullseye, you're sharpening your focus, refining your technique and unleashing your inner Robin Hood or Katniss Everdeen...

Archery

 

What is archery?

Archery is a sport involving the use of a bow to shoot arrows at a target. It requires concentration, precision, a degree of physical skill and techniques. Archers aim to hit specific targets, with scores depending on accuracy and consistency.

 

Archery at Calvert Exmoor

Here at Calvert Exmoor, we have our own outdoor archery range, so, whether you’re Robin Hood or Katniss Everdeen, you’ll live out your real-life adventure of becoming the hero with the bow and arrow. With each draw of the bowstring, you’re not just aiming for the bullseye, but also sharpening your focus, refining your technique and unleashing your competitive spirit. Our archery sessions are relaxed, with a social aspect that encourages engagement through games that use imagination and communication.

Archery in action

Your archery session

Click on each step for more information on what you can expect from an archery session with us…
An outdoor large open shed with a thick yellow line on the floor in front of it. There are white chairs under the shed roof looking in the direction of the camera that overlook the archery range.

1: Get ready

An outdoor large open shed with a thick yellow line on the floor in front of it. There are white chairs under the shed roof looking in the direction of the camera that overlook the archery range.

1: Get ready

  • You will meet your instructor at your allocated meeting point
  • Your meeting point will be given to you on arrival at the centre in advance of your activity sessions
  • Your instructor will take you to our onsite archery range with the rest of your group
  • Your instructor will talk you through the significance of our yellow and white safety lines and introduce you to the games you can play under the roof of the archery shed while you’re waiting for your turn
A group of young guests are gathered along the path that leads to the target in the archery range. They are looking at the instructor, who is standing in front of the target, talking to them about archery.

2: Learn how

A group of young guests are gathered along the path that leads to the target in the archery range. They are looking at the instructor, who is standing in front of the target, talking to them about archery.

2: Learn how

  • Your instructor will give you a safety briefing, showing you and your group the bows, arrows and targets and talk you through how to keep yourself and others safe
  • The instructor will then show you how to load and use your bow – there are different types of bows, so they will make sure you are matched with the right one
  • At this point, the instructor will check, one at a time, that you and your group can shoot your arrows safely before introducing competitive and social games
A collection of white plastic chairs have young guests sitting facing away from the camera, looking out at the archery range in the background, where a Calvert Exmoor instructor is teaching a young guest how to shoot and arrow with a bow.

3: Have a go

A collection of white plastic chairs have young guests sitting facing away from the camera, looking out at the archery range in the background, where a Calvert Exmoor instructor is teaching a young guest how to shoot and arrow with a bow.

3: Have a go

  • Once your instructor has seen you can safely shoot arrows independently, you’ll take it in turns (one or two at a time, dependent on staff ratios and safety) to take part
  • Your instructor will check how you’re feeling throughout, using various forms of communication, depending on your needs – don’t be afraid to let them know if you’re feeling uncomfortable or nervous or if you have any questions
  • When your instructor knows you’re all feeling confident and capable, they might introduce some fun and imaginative games that could involve healthy competition or teamwork
Two arrows are standing tip-down in a tube, with the string of a bow resting on top of the tube, the limbs of the bow hanging downwards.

4: Finish up

Two arrows are standing tip-down in a tube, with the string of a bow resting on top of the tube, the limbs of the bow hanging downwards.

4: Finish up

  • At the end of your archery activity, your instructor will ask you to return the equipment to its appropriate place and head back to the centre

Archery equipment

Whether you want to get an idea of what our kit looks like, or see some of our specialised gear that helps make our sessions more accessible, have a look below…
An accessible trigger bow is loaded and ready to fire, positioned on top of a pole to keep it steady and facing left to shoot a target.

Trigger bow

An accessible trigger bow is loaded and ready to fire, positioned on top of a pole to keep it steady and facing left to shoot a target.

Trigger bow

  • This bow is designed to be used by those who may have less mobility
  • The shooting of the arrow can be ‘triggered’ by pulling the handle on rope that lies at the end of the bow, closest to the user. The instructor or the person accompanying the user can load the bow by pulling the string back, before this trigger is used
  • This bow is very popular with wheelchair users, as it can be positioned at the height of the user
Two large bows with different handle colours are hanging on hooks inside a wood paneled shed. There is a target in the distance, with grass and a paved area behind the shed making up the archery range.

Full-size bows

Two large bows with different handle colours are hanging on hooks inside a wood paneled shed. There is a target in the distance, with grass and a paved area behind the shed making up the archery range.

Full-size bows

  • These ‘recurve’ bows are full-sized, with wooden crafted handles and flexible limbs
  • Each bow is crafted for a particular hand orientation, so whether you’re left or right-handed, you can benefit from this equipment
  • Those who may have less mobility or strength can benefit from the smaller bows too, should these not be suitable
A red and a blue handled archery bow are hanging off two black posts standing on the ground. In the background are two archery targets and grass in between.

Smaller bows

A red and a blue handled archery bow are hanging off two black posts standing on the ground. In the background are two archery targets and grass in between.

Smaller bows

  • The red and blue bows in the picture are smaller-sized bows that are often used by children, due to their extra flexibility and reduced size
  • The colour difference denotes whether they are left or right-handed
A close-up of the left arm of a guest holding a bow, with a blue wristguard on their forearm. Their right hand is holding the bowstring and arrow and starting to pull the string back.

Arrows and armguards

A close-up of the left arm of a guest holding a bow, with a blue wristguard on their forearm. Their right hand is holding the bowstring and arrow and starting to pull the string back.

Arrows and armguards

  • We have a variety of arrows, primarily two different types to suit the games we choose to play: one being pointy-tipped and one being rubber-tipped!
  • You’ll often be encouraged to use an armguard by our instructors, as it protects your clothing from getting in the way but also protects your arm against the snap back of the string after releasing

FAQs

Yes! We leave no one out and no matter what, we do everything we can to make sure you can enjoy the experience of archery in a way that suits you and keeps you safe.

At Calvert Exmoor, it’s what you CAN do that counts. Our instructors use the term ‘challenge by choice’, which ensures that while you’re taking part and given challenges along the way, you ultimately always have the agency and control over your own limitations. Our staff are there to keep you safe but also build your confidence, even if this means accomplishing a simpler version of the activity.

Our archery activity takes place at our onsite archery range.

This is only a 2 minute walk away from your accommodation.

 

Many of our instructors have qualifications from Archery GB and have vast experience and internal training in making the sport accessible and suitably challenging.

Our accreditations