About Us – The Story of Yorkshire Outdoor Activity Park & YPC Outdoors
Welcome to Yorkshire Outdoor Activity Park and YPC Outdoors — two halves of a single mission that began in 1988:
To create unforgettable outdoor experiences, build a community of adventurers, and make quality outdoor gear accessible to everyone.
For over three decades, thousands of families, friends, clubs, schools, and companies have trusted us with their days out, and now, through our rapidly growing online shop, their equipment too.
This is who we are, where we came from, and where we’re going.
Chapter One: The Beginning (1988–1995)
A shed, a woodland, and a vision for something bigger.
In 1988, long before “adventure parks” were a thing, we opened Yorkshire Paintball Centre in Hillam, North Yorkshire. At the time, there were only three paintball sites in the entire UK. The sport was new, wild, unrefined, and full of possibility.
Nine months later, we secured our permanent home, a breathtaking 100-acre woodland in Escrick, near York. That woodland became the heart of everything that followed.
Early visitors remember:
- A single woodland field
- Basic gear
- Raw, immersive gameplay
- A young team with huge drive
- And a small but fiercely loyal community
Those roots shaped our identity:
Real adventure, real people, real memories.
Chapter Two: Innovation, Growth & Record-Breaking (1992–2010)
We didn’t just run paintball games; we pushed boundaries.
1992 marked a turning point. We hosted the now-legendary War of the Roses paintball event with 360 players, setting a UK record that stood for over 20 years. The community exploded; teams from across the country knew Yorkshire as the place to play.
From there, innovation became our signature:
✔ 2004 — The World’s Largest Paintball Bridge
We constructed a 300-foot multi-level paintball bridge, the biggest of its kind anywhere. It became an instant icon and still defines our park today.
✔ Early adoption of new technologies
Before most businesses had even considered the internet, we launched one of the first UK commercial websites in 1995.
✔ Constant equipment upgrades
We invested in:
- modern markers
- improved masks
- higher-grade paint
- new game zones
- and the earliest safety-led training standards
By the late 2000s, Yorkshire Paintball Centre had outgrown its name, its reputation, and its scope, and a new phase was coming.
Chapter Three: Becoming Yorkshire Outdoor Activity Park (2010–Present)
From one activity to many, built on community demand.
Visitors wanted more than paintball. Families wanted activities for younger children. Clubs wanted new experiences. Corporate groups wanted multi-activity days.
So we listened.
Over the following years, we expanded into one of the UK’s most varied outdoor adventure centres:
Our current activities include:
- Paintball (ages 10+)
- Junior Paintball
- Airsoft
- Gelball
- Axe Throwing
- Archery
- Air Rifle Shooting
- Battle Zone Archery
- Adult Laser Tag
- Kids Laser Tag
- Kids Nerf Parties
The Yorkshire Outdoor Activity Park became the place where 8-year-olds, 80-year-olds, and everyone in between could share an unforgettable day out.
Safety, fun, and professionalism remained the foundation, backed by decades of real-world experience.
Chapter Four: The Birth of YPC Outdoors, Our Online Superstore
From the woodland to the world.
In recent years, something unexpected happened.
Visitors kept asking:
- “Where can we buy the same goggles you’re using?”
- “What equipment do you recommend for home practice?”
- “Where do you get your Nerf blasters?”
- “Where do you get your airsoft accessories?”
So we began selling a handful of items online.
What happened next changed the future of the business.
✔ The shop took off
It grew rapidly, category after category, sport after sport.
✔ Tens of thousands of products
From a small selection to:
- Airsoft gear
- Nerf blasters and accessories
- Archery equipment
- Cycling clothing & accessories
- Fishing gear
- Football & tennis gear
- Outdoor tech & gadgets
- Camping equipment
- Home & garden extras
- And expanding daily
✔ Customers trusted our recommendations
Because they knew we weren’t just a shop,
We’ve used this equipment in real conditions for decades.
✔ A new identity was needed
The activity park and the shop share the same mission, but they serve different needs.
So the shop developed its own brand:
YPC Outdoors
Your UK online destination for outdoor sports equipment, family activities, and adventure gear.
Today, YPC Outdoors is one of the fastest-growing outdoor shops in the UK, and the evolution is only just beginning.
Chapter Five: Our Dual Identity – One Mission
✔ Yorkshire Outdoor Activity Park
Real-world, instructor-led outdoor experiences in our 100-acre woodland.
✔ YPC Outdoors
A national online shop offering thousands of products across outdoor sports, adventure, leisure, and family fun.
Two sides of the same coin.
One built from the forest floor.
One built to serve the whole country.
Both driven by the same belief:
Outdoor fun should be accessible, safe, high-quality, and unforgettable.
Meet the Owner: Andy Hollywood (“The Man Who Never Stops Adding Stuff”)
Andy has been part of the paintball and adventure world since the day it arrived in the UK. He:
- played in the world’s largest paintball game (Moscow, 8,000+ players)
- hosted the UK record-setting War of the Roses
- designed many of the arenas
- built the world’s largest paintball bridge
- expanded the park into a multi-activity centre
- created the online shop
- and continues to run the entire operation today
His passion is simple:
“Give people something they’ll talk about for years.”
Whether he’s rebuilding a paintball field, testing a new air rifle, creating a Nerf event, adding 50,000 shop products, or welcoming families in person, Andy is woven into every part of the business.
Our Values – What Drives Us Every Day
1. Experience First
Everything we offer — on-site or online — is chosen because it delivers joy, fun, excitement, or value.
2. Safety Always
From equipment checks to instructor training, we hold ourselves to the highest standards.
3. Expertise You Can Trust
We don’t just sell equipment, we use it, test it, and refine it.
4. Adventure for All Ages
From 8 to 80, complete beginners to seasoned pros.
5. Constant Improvement
New activities. New shop categories. New ideas.
We never stand still.
The Future: YPC Outdoors Leading the Way
While the activity park remains a thriving adventure destination, the online shop has become the fastest-growing part of the business. Over the coming years:
- More sports categories will be added
- More products will be tested and curated
- New buying guides will be written
- New technologies for booking and shopping will be introduced
- YPC Outdoors will become a national outdoor brand
Yorkshire Outdoor Activity Park will always be our home, the roots.
YPC Outdoors will become the branches, reaching across the UK.
Join Us for the Next Chapter
Whether you’re visiting our woodland for a day of adventure or shopping with YPC Outdoors for your next big hobby, we’re here to make sure you have a brilliant experience from start to finish.
Explore the park.
Browse the shop.
Start something unforgettable.
Yorkshire Outdoor Activity Park & YPC Outdoors – where adventure begins, and memories last.