Archery is the kind of sport where you get out what you put in. If you invest time and energy in improving your technique and aim, you’ll get the satisfaction of hitting the bullseye. If you go as far as some enthusiasts and make your own bows and arrows from scratch, the rewards are multiplied. And if you come along with a desire to have fun doing something different, you’ll leave with a smile on your face. All the benefits of this activity are multiplied when you have the chance to do it in beautiful surroundings, which you’ll don’t have to work hard to find around the city of Brighton.

It sits on the beach, which is full of sunbathers in the summer months, and is surrounded on two of the remaining sides by the South Downs National Park. The result is that you never feel claustrophobic or trapped by an urban jungle in the city - whenever you need to get away from it all, you can make a short journey to wide open space to enjoy fresh air, stunning views and outdoor activities. Archery is great for a change of focus, forcing you to calm your mind, steady your hand, and direct your concentration onto the target. When you release the arrow and plant it right in the middle of the target, there’s a matching release of endorphins in your brain which makes you feel on top of the world. But this sport doesn’t have to be about zen and concentration, in fact, it can be one of the most exciting, action-packed activities out there. The relatively new pursuit of Archery Tag, involves using bows and safety arrows in a combat, paintball style, game. With an emphasis on teamwork, thrills and, of course, shooting your friends, it’s a wild ride of action. Whatever it is that you’re searching for, we’re going to tell you where to find it.

Where are the best places to do archery in Brighton?

• Brighton city: The city itself is home to a mobile archery tag operator which can set an arena up in a variety of indoor and outdoor locations. You can choose the destination for this high adrenaline experience, or invite them to where you are, to enjoy a range of exciting games where the rules change as quickly as the names on the leaderboard. You have to be fast, fearless and focused if you want to come out on top!

• The South Downs: The University of Sussex is the only university in the UK that’s located within a national park. Most of the students and professors on campus are too focused on academic goals to realise that in just a couple of minutes, they could walk onto the chalky peaks of these rolling hills and let their horizons expand, taking in a panorama of that stretches from the centre of Brighton, out to the English Channel, and over the downs. They might also come across a fantastic shooting ground which hosts clay pigeon and air rifle shooting alongside an archery range. This range is big enough for 15 targets to be set up at the same time, so you can bring a full band of Merry Men - or women - here, and see who turns out to be the Robin Hood of the group. And if that doesn’t sound like enough fun? Combine this activity with the new sport of axe throwing and release your stress in the most primal way possible.

• Hassocks: Just across the South Downs, you’ll find one of the best outdoor activity centres in the county of Sussex. It’s best known for its excellent open air go karting track, but the fun doesn’t stop at the finish line. In addition to bubble football, paintball and electric bike rental, there are a range of target sports on offer. Classic archery is one of the best, and the range’s large collection of lifelike 3D models of animals that are used as targets makes this a unique shooting experience. And you can also get involved with Archery Tag here, where the animal targets are replaced with human ones!

What are the options for organising an experience?

- So the main choice when it comes to planning the bow and arrows adventure of your dreams is between classic target shooting, and frenetic Archery Tag. If you decide to go for the traditional, gentleman’s sport modality, you have a lot of control over the style of the session. First is the choice of bow - the old English longbow, the olympic-style recurve and the modern compound with extra strings and pulleys to give you greater draw strength. If it’s your first time, you’ll probably use a recurve, which are easier to use than the rigid longbows and more simple than compound models. Then there’s the target. As we’ve mentioned, in and around Brighton you can find traditional designs alongside animal models, and there are other styles to put your aim to the test, like the dartboard target. You can also choose the distance you shoot from - we recommend starting closer and working your way back! Finally, whether you want to take it seriously and focus on hitting the bullseye, or enjoy some fun and games with your friends, you’re covered. You can also decide whether you want to be on the range for 1 hour or 2 hours.

- Archery Tag combines elements of paintball, dodgeball and, of course, archery. It lends itself to many different play styles and in Brighton you can enjoy games as diverse as Team Tag, Capture the Flag and Every Man for Himself. Each individual game lasts around 10 minutes, and you can arrange sessions of 1 or 2 hours to include a variety of game modes and maybe even a tournament.

Requirements to do this activity

Safety is of course a consideration in any sport that involves firing projectiles, but conditions on archery ranges are controlled and all shooting is supervised, so the minimum age for participation is determined by the equipment available in each location. When it comes to Archery Tag, safety is taken very seriously, to the extent that the arrows are all foam tipped so that they don’t hurt or leave a mark on impact. You’ll also be required to wear a face mask that covers your eyes at all times, and in this way, children as young as 7 years old can get involved.

We think that the best way to enjoy both types is with your friends or family. Groups of 10 to 15 can shoot together on the ranges around, while Archery Tag can accommodate up to 150 players at once! In the course of a two hour session, each player will take part in multiple games in a 2 hour session, and cheer on their friends during the other games. It’s a great choice for school sports day, a scouts and guides activity or a corporate event. Don’t worry, smaller groups are also welcome, making this a perfect choice for a birthday party, stag and hen do, or other celebration.

This sport is whatever you want it to be. Tell us the what and the when, and we’ll organise your activity.