Insight Activities Dorset and the New Forest

It’s the time of year when it can be easy to slide into slothfulness and realise you haven’t left the sofa all day. But as your mum might say- what a waste! On a crisp autumn or frosty bright winter’s day, there’s nothing better than getting out and about in the UK’s great outdoors. As well as great for physical fitness, being active outdoors brings proven mental-health boosting endorphins.

With great supervised activities at their two private woodland sites, Insight Activities gives you the opportunity to enjoy a great day out with your mates and learn some new skills, tempting the most dedicated couch potato to say: last one out, close the front door!

If You go Down to the Woods Today…

Refreshingly small-scale, hands-on and personal, Insight Activities are based in two stunning woodland settings: Fordingbridge in the New Forest and Tolpuddle, Dorset, opening up new ways for people to connect with, engage and explore landscapes and activities Robin Hood would feel right at home with!

Nestled in rustic woodland you will find shooting and axe throwing ranges, where you can learn the ancient arts of archery, axe throwing and crossbow shooting. If you just can’t decide, then combined sessions give you the opportunity to experience two or even three traditional medieval combat skills in one session. Or give your inner warrior a day off and immerse yourself in nature on a Woodland Bushcraft day- you might even come face to face with some of our native snakes!

Offering activities for individuals, couples, families, stag and hen dos, private parties, corporate events and mobile activity supply for events, no previous experience is required, everyone is made welcome, including well behaved accompanying dogs! However, pre-booking is essential, as this is not some faceless huge activity centre. Let’s face it, this is fun you’re not going to want to share with a whole crowd!

Archery

Believing that from beginner up everyone should have access to the best equipment and coaching, both Insight Activities’ archery ranges use professional quality bows, as used by Olympic competitors! Accommodating 14 people shooting on the line at any one time at both New Forest and Dorset, friendly guidance and tuition, run by professional ArcheryGB coaches, is centred around keeping people fully active and shooting for the whole session time, not having to share your go. Beginner to expert, you can increase distance, bow power, have a fun competition and shoot for balloons as you unleash your inner Robin Hood (ages 6+)

Crossbows

If you fancy yourself as ‘Daryl’ from ‘The Walking Dead’ then it’s time to join in some Zombie killing action in the woods! In a target shooting session turned up to 11 at both New Forest and Dorset, you can also boost your firepower, by trading up for a rifle crossbow, a modern take on traditional archery. Powerful magnified rifle scopes will help you blast a zombie ’s head at 25m! (ages 12+)

Axe Throwing

Connect with your inner warrior, and experience the engaging and exciting medieval woodland activity of axe throwing at both New Forest and Dorset. With unique axes custom designed and forged by a New Forest blacksmith, beware of imitations! You’ll learn the proper techniques to (safely!) wield and ultimately throw axes to hit a target. As featured on Channel 4, can you challenge Freddie Flintoff’s record? (ages 12+)

Archery Combat Tag

Essentially Archery meets Paintball in this exciting new form of Archery combat game. Swap static targets for moving ones as you chase your friends around the woods trying to ‘tag’ them and eliminate them from the game. Safe yet thrilling, using specially designed ‘safe’ arrows, fired from traditional, full power, recurve bows, these ‘Hunger Games for real’ are the most fun you’re likely to have with a bow and arrow! (ages 12+)

Siege The Castle

A fun group session at both New Forest and Dorset challenging mental and physical prowess, led by an Insight Activities tutor. The aim is for teams to build a giant ‘catapult’ to shoot projectiles at a ‘Castle’ themed target. You’ll be shown suggested designs, construction and rope lashing techniques, but it’s then over to your team to collectively design and construct a mighty siege engine. Let the fun commence! (ages 12+)

Bushcraft Day (Dorset only)

Set in a beautiful secluded woodland within Dorset, you will have the opportunity to learn many primitive survival skills, tailored to each group’s individual interests. Skills include knife skills, carving, shelter building, natural nettle cord-making and foraging for food, or channel your inner Ray Mears and try your hand at flint and steel, bow-drill, and improvised fire-lighting. Engaging your inner survivalist, learn about trees and wildlife right in the middle of the woodland, foraging for food, making a shelter, crafting a spoon or making some bush bling! (ages 8+)

Wild Snake Walks (New Forest only)

Insight Activities are the only local company qualified to run exclusive, guided wild snake walks within Hampshire’s New Forest. A unique guided forest walk lead by a professional ecologist, a dedicated study site guarantees you will get to find, identify and even handle new forest snakes in the wild. You can even help collect data from these fascinating reptilian residents to assist Amphibian and Reptile Conservation which contributes directly to habitat conservation in the New Forest. (ages 8+)

Mobile Range Activities

The friendly team also run a mobile activity range and can supply archery, crossbows, axe throwing and archery tag for mobile events and private parties. Fed up with boring risk assessments? Take your corporate team-bonding to the extreme (in perfect safety!), or make your party go with a target-rattling thump! (ages as per individual activities above)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

We have also put together a list of frequently asked questions at the link below, which include some Top Tips and Did you know information, which you can use to show off with your friends and family

• Read our frequently asked questions (FAQs) - Click Here

We hope that you have enjoyed reading our article called Insight Activities Dorset and the New Forest, and that you have found the information above include our FAQ page helpful in deciding on which venue you to choose for your Activities and Days Out