REVIEW: Mendip Activity Centre

We were invited to Mendip Activity centre to unleash our inner thrill seekers for the day and sample a few activities they have on offer.

Situated in Sandford, in the middle of some frankly breathtaking Somerset countryside (and only a short drive outside of the Bristol area), the Mendip Activity Centre is an often unknown hidden gem that offers a wide array of thrilling activities for everyone of all ages, skill levels and ability to enjoy. We tried our hands at some adrenaline-pumping Active Archery, all round pleasing dry slope tobogganing and the laid-back but super fun Frisbee Golf. You can also take part in Abseiling, Bushcraft and survival skills, Air rifle shooting, canoeing and snowboarding just to name a few. The list is endless.

Active Archery

If you're a fan of archery but crave a slightly safer, more dynamic and interactive experience, Active Archery will undoubtedly hit the bullseye for you. Combining the precision and skill of traditional archery with an added twist of competitiveness (your targets are your teammates) this activity will have you on your toes as you aim, shoot, and dodge incoming arrows (don’t worry, they have what can only be described as giant foam marshmallows over the sharp bit so it doesn’t hurt if they hit you).

We had a 90 min private session with Rowan where he got us geared up, showed us the ropes and then guided us through target practice with cans, foam bullseyes and wooden logs to then gear us up to turn the arrows on each other (wearing safety gear) and run around and protect our precious targets. We played with 3 adults and 2 kids (aged 8) and we honestly were laughing till our faces hurt. This is great for all ages (age 6 upwards) and will bring out the inner kids in everyone! This is like archery meets a game of dodgeball and it totally works! Sessions are recommended for 6-8 people but you can bring up to 16 in a single session.

Frisbee Golf

Next, we took the vibe down a bit and had a lovely, relaxing game of Frisbee Golf. Combining the popular sport of golf with the casual fun of Frisbee, this game is a delightful blend of accuracy and giggles and is one of only 35 Frisbee golf courses in the whole of the UK!

Navigate through a specially designed, 18 “hole” course, you'll be challenged to throw your Frisbee into a series of targets, each representing a "hole." The course will take you through some stunning surroundings (including fields full of sheep and steep dirt track hills) and is deceptively harder than it looks if you have a wind blowing at the time of play.

We recommend you allow a good 2 hours to complete the course (depending on how many of you are playing and how busy the course is, perhaps a little longer) and wear good footwear as you will be led through some challenging terranes. Practical things to also keep in mind is there are no toilets along the course so ensure you (and any kids) go before you set off. There is also a super fun Yeti trail for kids to complete along the way with the promise of a sweet treat at the end if completed. 

Playing the course is free but also note that a £5 refundable deposit per frisbee is payable before you start.

Tobogganing

Experience the thrill of speeding down a dry slope on a Zibob toboggan and I guarantee, no matter your age, you will be racing back up the steps to speed down again and again.
This is one of the most popular activities at Mendip Activity Centre and depending on the time of year, comes with some seasonal twists. 

The activity time is 30 mins and starts from as little as £10 per slot. If you book a slot, children ages 4-12 can take part. Or you can book an exclusive half slope (for up to 8 people) and all ages can take part (yes that means adults too)... this is what we had and we highly recommend it. It is worth noting that the second option is the only option where anyone over the age of 12 can take part. 

Alternatively, you can book the whole slope (space for up to 24 people) but everyone must be ages 4-12. 

It is worth noting that you must be wearing gloves, long sleeve tops and full length trousers to take part in tobogganing. (if you forget gloves, you can buy them in their onsite shop) and of course, suitable footwear (we recommend something such as trainers, flip flops would be a disaster). The activity itself is unsupervised so if you have children taking part, they must be supervised by their adults at all times. 

Beyond the vast array of activities on offer, Mendip Activity Centre is a haven for team-building exercises, birthday parties (adults and kids), work events, and family days out. The friendly and highly experienced staff are always on hand to ensure that you have a memorable and safe experience.

There are onsite cafes for food (that caters for all dietary requirements) or just drinks if you fancy it. It is worth noting that when we went, there was over an hour's wait for the food to arrive so ensure you have plenty of time before your next activity if you plan on eating there or you might miss your timeslots. There are also lots of picnic spots should you wish to bring your own snacks or have a more rustic experience. There are also some great places to sit with a coffee or an ice cream in between activities. There is free, onsite parking too although this does get quite busy at peak times. 

This is a great day out for all ages that offers unique activities for all ages and is a great way to get back to nature and have some fun in the sun!

Find out more about Mendip Activity Centre here. 

Written by Mama Massive

You can find her on Instagram at @mama.massive or reach her at www.mamamassive.co.uk.

Laura is a highly experienced Blogger, Copywriter, Content Creator, and Marketing Manager based on the outskirts of Bristol / North Somerset where she lives with her partner, daughter, and cats.

She has over a decades worth of experience within the world of social media, advertising, and marketing in both a corporate and freelance capacity having worked across a multitude of industries including music, construction, and leisure. She currently also runs her own successful blog / Instagram where she covers topics such as parenthood, lifestyle, and reviews of both products and places.

Laura applies a creative flair and strategy to whatever she does and has an extensive portfolio of creative work backed by data-driven results.

When Laura isn't working, she likes to spend her time at the theatre, listening to true crime podcasts, or doing her favourite thing in the world... sleeping.