Here’s something a little different: shooting and archery on Cornwall’s only tarmac-surfaced general aviation airfield. Perranporth Driving Centre may specialise in training learners how to prepare for their tests at the UK’s only purpose-built driver training facility but it also does a great side-line in target sports for an afternoon of fun.
Based at Perranporth Airfield, which is just a few miles down the coast from the beautiful seaside town of Perranporth, the driving centre offers individuals or groups shooting or archery games in 30-minute sessions. Of course, you can book as many sessions in a row as you want but there’s the key: remember to pre-book and don’t just rock up. The shooting is on a target range with some pretty sweet rifles and the archery is the same, except obviously with bows and arrows instead.
The centre sometimes offers other activities aside from the learner driver courses, the archery and the shooting. There’s been a ‘hovercraft experience’ on the tarmac in the past, as well as a ‘skid car experience’ where you literally learn how to effectively skid a car. These may return so do check the centre’s website for updates. Skydiving between Friday and Sunday every week and general flying lessons are also offered on the airfield but these experiences are run by other companies. The Perranporth Driving Centre team can put you in touch with them, though.
So, ditch the beaches, pasties and country walks for an afternoon and head to an airfield to let off some bullets or arrows at a target with your loved ones. Who knows? Perhaps you’ll be the best shot in town before you head back to the Perranporth bars to sample, well, the best shots in town.