While archery is enjoyed in every part of the country, and the world, it’s spiritual home is surely in Nottinghamshire, the fabled land of England’s most famous outlaw, Robin Hood. Stories of Robin Hood started to appear around 1,000 years ago, and though there’s no consensus as to whether he was a real person or not, all the sources agree on a couple of things. Number one, he lived with his band of followers in the depths of Sherwood forest. Number two, his nemesis was the Sheriff of Nottingham. And finally, he was the finest archer in the land.

Robin Hood’s talent for archery helped him in two ways. Firstly, he was the sharpest shooter around, a fact which he demonstrated at a competition organised by the Sheriff in order to win a golden arrow. But for Robin, bows and arrows were also a weapon which he put to good use to thwart the Sheriff’s plans and protect his people. Both of these aspects are alive and well in modern day Nottinghamshire. You can practise the discipline of target archery, where focus and aim are of paramount importance, and you can also take part in the combat game of Archery Tag, which is something like a cross between dodgeball and paintball, with bows and arrows. And just to reassure you, you won’t have to take from the rich in order to fund your experience here! If you like the sound of that, keep reading to find out how to become next master archer.

Where are the best places to do archery in Nottinghamshire?

• Newark: If you want to maximise your chances of hitting the bullseye, where could be better than the depths of Sherwood Forest? You’ll be able to feel the spirit of Robin Hood flowing through you as you draw the bowstring, train your aim and loose an arrow into the target. You can also take part in Archery Tag here, putting your aim to the test alongside your teamwork and tactical skills.

• Blythe: Another centre that offers both target shooting and archery tag is found near the village of Blyth in the north of the county. And if the Olympic style recurve bows aren’t enough to keep you interested, you can also try your hand at shooting a crossbow. In fact, you can go for a full Robin Hood Experience which includes traditional bow shooting, crossbows and axe throwing. It’s a session that lets you go funny mediaeval!

• Budby: This centre is near the villages of Budby and Edwinstone, where, according to the legends, Robin Hood and his true love, Maid Marien, were married. You can take part in the assault action of Archery Tag here to release some adrenaline alongside your merry men, and merry women, or enjoy target shooting on a range that’s fringed with ancient woodland.

• Arnold: Not far from the city of Nottingham is a friendly club with a mission to increase the popularity of the sport in the area. One of the ways they do that is by welcoming novices to taster sessions, where all the equipment is supplied and club members give instruction and guidance on how to use a bow and arrows.

• Harworth: There’s a similar offering at the other end of Nottinghamshire, near the border with South Yorkshire. The club near Harworth is well established and has a great outdoor shooting location, ringed by trees and with views to the Peak District National Park.

Requirements to do this activity

Hundreds of years ago was a way of life for many people, whether they were longbowmen in the army, hunters or outlaws like Robin Hood and his merry men. Nowadays it’s more of a hobby, which attracts different kinds of people for all kinds of reasons. Some find an almost meditative sense of calm while focusing on the target and firing arrows, others enjoy the social aspect and spending time outdoors, and there are those who love the action of it. Whatever about it appeals to you, you can find numerous opportunities to get your first taste of archery and decide if you want it to be your new hobby.

There are some age limits in place at the archery ranges around Nottinghamshire. The lowest age varies, usually 8 years old being the youngest to 12 years old. The variation isn’t due to different attitudes to safety, in fact it’s based on the equipment which the centre has. Some places have bows and arrows that suit the youngest archers, others have equipment for slightly older shooters. These minimum ages apply to classic target shooting, and Archery tag.

When we think about Robin Hood, we shouldn’t forget about his companions, his merry men, because he wouldn’t have been nearly as successful without them. And in modern day Nottinghamshire, bringing your nearest and dearest with you can make an experience much more enjoyable. In particular, you need to have a group with you to enjoy Archery Tag because it’s a team game - some centres can arrange games for groups of 4 people, but 10 people is a better number. The more, the merrier!

How long does a session last?

- If you’ve got a chock-a-block schedule, or simply don't know whether you’re going to commit to archery, you can find sessions in Nottinghamshire that last just 1 hour. Even in that time, you can learn about the equipment involved and have time for plenty of shooting, getting better every time with the help of an expert instructor. But if that seems a bit short for you, there are also 1.5 and 2 hour long experiences on offer, and that includes sessions that combine it with crossbow shooting or other activities.

- When it comes to Archery Tag, a single game lasts around 10 to 15 minutes. But if you’re worried about getting your money’s worth, you can relax, because a session will include numerous games. Best of all, there’s a large number of different game modes, so you can keep changing the rules, as well as mixing up the teams, to ensure that no one in the group gets bored during the 1.5 or 2 hour session.

These are legendary experiences, become part of the story today!