Outdoor Activities Near York | Find Your Perfect Adventure
Looking for an outdoor activity near York for a birthday, family day out, stag or hen party, corporate event or group celebration?
Yorkshire Outdoor Activity Park offers a wide choice of instructor-led outdoor experiences at our purpose-built venue on the Escrick Park Estate, conveniently located between York and Selby.
Choose from Paintball, Airsoft, Laser Tag, Gelball, Nerf, Archery, Axe Throwing, Air Rifle Shooting and several original experiences created at our venue.
Activities are available for children from School Year 1 through to adults, with private group sessions, beginner-friendly tuition and options for parties, families, friends, schools, clubs and companies.
Not sure which activity is right for your group? Use this page to compare the options and find an experience everyone can enjoy.
Choose Your Outdoor Activity
Every group is different.
Some want a full-scale outdoor battle. Others prefer a skill-based challenge, a children’s birthday adventure or something completely original.
Browse the activity choices below, then select any image to see prices, minimum ages, group requirements and full booking information.
Action and Team Games
Choose one of these activities when your group wants movement, competition, teamwork and outdoor missions.
Action & TeaM Game
Paintball
Take on large permanent game zones featuring a real crashed aircraft, a 10,000 square foot bunker, The Village with 27 buildings and a bridge measuring more than 300 feet.
Our outdoor paintball venue has operated since 1988 and is a former winner of the UK Paintball Site of the Year award.
Choose from two-hour and four-hour packages for players aged 12 and above.
Action & TeaM Game
Airsoft
Book a private 90-minute airsoft session exclusively for your group.
Equipment and 1,000 rounds per player are included, with games taking place across woodland, permanent structures, a communications complex and areas featuring a real crashed aircraft.
Private sessions are suitable from age 12 and require at least 10 players.
Individual players and smaller groups can also explore our separately organised Airsoft Skirmish Days.
Action & TeaM Game
Adult Laser Tag
Enjoy tactical outdoor games without paintball or airsoft impacts.
Adult Laser Tag uses electronic guns with built-in sensors, unlimited ammunition and automatic recording of lives and eliminations.
Sessions last 90 minutes, are private to your group and are suitable from age 12.
Action & TeaM Game
Battle Zone Archery
Battle Zone Archery is our own original combat archery format, played inside The Village with its 27 permanent buildings.
Use specially designed bows and foam-tipped arrows to eliminate opponents, strike the enemy crystal skull and revive teammates.
Catch an opposing arrow cleanly before it touches the ground and your entire team returns to the match.
Private one-hour sessions are suitable from School Year 7 and require at least 10 players.
Children’s Parties and Family Adventures
Our children’s activities are private to the booking, so your group will not be mixed with another party. Each activity has its own minimum school year, equipment and style of play.
Children’s Parties
Kids Laser Tag
Kids Laser Tag is available from School Year 1, making it a popular choice for younger birthday groups.
Children use lightweight electronic equipment on The Village and Towers maps, with unlimited lives, team missions, a treasure hunt and a Golden Egg finale.
There are no physical projectiles, masks or ammunition charges.
Children’s Parties
Kids Nerf Parties
Children in School Year 3 and above can take part in a story-led Nerf adventure inside our purpose-built outdoor village.
The session includes Nerf missions, unlimited foam darts, a treasure hunt for hidden gold coins and a final search for the Golden Egg.
Full-face protection and Nerf pistols are included.
Children’s Parties
Gelball
Gelball is an original outdoor activity pioneered at Yorkshire Outdoor Activity Park. We own the UK trademark for Gelball for this type of activity.
Suitable from School Year 3, Gelball uses soft hydrated ammunition that does not hurt.
Private sessions include pistols, rifles, unlimited ammunition, elimination games and team objectives across outdoor adventure maps.
Parents can join in, with sniper rifles available for adults who prefer a more settled role.
Children’s Parties
Kids Paintball
Kids Paintball gives children aged 10 and above a genuine paintball experience using Valken Gotcha pump-action markers.
The equipment fires at approximately one-third of standard adult paintball velocity. Children know when they have been hit, but the impact does not hurt.
Each private 90-minute session includes 300 paintballs per player and three structured missions across the same permanent outdoor maps used for Adult Paintball.
Target and Precision Activities
These experiences reward concentration, control and steady improvement rather than running or contact gameplay. They are suitable for complete beginners, with equipment and tuition included.
Target and Precision Activity
Archery
Learn stance, aim, anchor point and release with experienced instructors on our covered outdoor archery range.
Our instruction team includes a former GNAS Under-16 Northern Counties Archery Champion, while our lead instructor has more than 40 years of involvement in archery.
One-hour sessions are available from School Year 3.
Target and Precision Activity
Axe Throwing
Learn how to grip, stand and release the axe before moving into practice and scored competition.
Our covered and floodlit axe-throwing range uses individually separated steel-mesh bays and is suitable for complete beginners.
One-hour sessions are available from age 12 and School Year 7.
Target and Precision Activity
Air Rifle Shooting
Try calm, controlled target shooting on our covered, wheelchair-accessible air rifle range.
Participants learn safe handling, sight alignment, breathing and trigger control before progressing into scored rounds.
Individually sectioned shooting bays provide each participant with a clearly defined position.
Sessions are suitable from School Year 7.
Original Experiences Created at Our Venue
Looking for something you are unlikely to find anywhere else? These experiences were developed at Yorkshire Outdoor Activity Park and offer much more than a standard activity session.
Original Experience
Zombie Apocalypse Training Facility
Would you survive until lunch, or would you become lunch?
Our private two-hour Zombie Apocalypse Training Facility combines Air Rifle Shooting, Archery and Axe Throwing in one humorous, story-led survival challenge.
Receive tuition, complete scored rounds and discover your calculated Zombie Survival Percentage.
Every participant receives a personalised Zombie Survival Certificate.
The experience costs £50 per person, is suitable from age 12 and requires a minimum of four participants.
Original Experience
Zombie Uprising
Zombie Uprising is our live-actor zombie experience.
Your group enters a developing outbreak, completes missions and works together while actors play the zombies around you.
This is a scenario-led event rather than a conventional target or team game, creating a more theatrical and immersive group experience.
Activities for Stag and hen Parties
Planning a stag or hen weekend around York?
Choose a private activity that gives the whole group something to talk about afterwards.
Popular options include:
- Paintball
- Zombie Apocalypse Training Facility
- Battle Zone Archery
- Axe Throwing
- Adult Laser Tag
- Airsoft
- Archery
- Air Rifle Shooting
Paintball provides a longer, high-action event, while Battle Zone Archery and Adult Laser Tag offer tactical competition without painful impacts.
The Zombie Apocalypse Training Facility is ideal for groups wanting humour, three activities and personalised survival results.
Select an activity above to compare prices, durations and minimum group sizes.
Outdoor Birthday Parties Near York
We offer birthday activities for children, teenagers and adults.
For younger children, choose between Kids Laser Tag, Nerf and Gelball according to their school year and preferred style of play.
Older children and teenagers may enjoy Kids Paintball, Adult Laser Tag, Airsoft, Battle Zone Archery or one of our target activities.
Optional children’s party food is available with selected activities for £5 per person and includes:
- An XL American-style hot dog
- A juice drink
- A packet of crisps
Food is served in a private themed party room. We have five rooms, there is no fixed time limit and birthday cakes are welcome.
Check the individual activity page to see whether the children’s food package is available with your chosen session.
Corporate Activities and Team Days
Swap the conference room for a shared outdoor challenge.
Our corporate activities can be booked for companies looking for friendly competition, communication and an experience colleagues can enjoy together.
Choose Paintball or Airsoft for tactical team games, Battle Zone Archery for an unusual head-to-head challenge, or Archery, Axe Throwing and Air Rifles for scored individual competition.
The Zombie Apocalypse Training Facility combines three activities in one private event and gives every participant a personalised final result.
Activities can also be combined, subject to timings, group size, minimum ages and availability.
Activities for Schools, Clubs and Youth Groups
School, sports, club and youth-group organisers can choose from a range of age-appropriate activities.
Possible options include:
- Kids Laser Tag from School Year 1
- Nerf and Gelball from School Year 3
- Archery from School Year 3
- Kids Paintball from age 10 and School Year 5
- Battle Zone Archery, Air Rifles and Axe Throwing from School Year 7
- Paintball, Airsoft and Adult Laser Tag from age 12
Every session includes clear instruction and supervision.
Contact us before booking if your group contains several age ranges or participants with additional requirements.
Have Your Own Paintball or Airsoft Equipment?
Experienced players with their own equipment can join our separately organised event days.
Paintball Walk-Ons are scheduled events for players looking for a full day of organised paintball with other experienced participants.
Use the dedicated Walk-On page for dates, prices and equipment rules.
Our regular Airsoft Skirmish Days are public events booked separately from private 90-minute airsoft sessions.
Individual players and smaller groups can view the dedicated skirmish page for dates, hire options and event information.
Which Activity Should You Choose?
For the youngest groups
Choose Kids Laser Tag from School Year 1.
It uses electronic hit detection, has unlimited lives and fires no projectile.
For children who love imaginative adventures
Choose Nerf from School Year 3.
The session includes missions, hidden gold coins and a Golden Egg finale inside a purpose-built village.
For a step up from Nerf
Choose Gelball from School Year 3.
It offers greater range, pistols and rifles, unlimited ammunition and outdoor tactical games without painful impacts.
For children wanting real paintball
Choose Kids Paintball from age 10 and School Year 5.
It uses low-velocity paintball equipment and includes three structured missions on permanent outdoor maps.
For groups who do not want to be hit
Choose Laser Tag, Archery, Axe Throwing, Air Rifle Shooting or Battle Zone Archery.
For something completely original
Choose the Zombie Apocalypse Training Facility, Zombie Uprising, Gelball or Battle Zone Archery.
For mixed fitness levels
Consider Archery, Axe Throwing, Air Rifle Shooting or the Zombie Apocalypse Training Facility.
These activities reward technique and accuracy rather than speed or constant running.
Why Choose Yorkshire outdoor activity park?
Yorkshire Outdoor Activity Park has been delivering organised outdoor activities since 1988.
Groups choose our venue because we offer:
You do not need previous experience. Select an activity, check the requirements and book the session that best suits your group.
Where We Are
Yorkshire Outdoor Activity Park is located on the Escrick Park Estate, between York and Selby, with access from the A19.
The venue is convenient for visitors travelling from York, Selby, Escrick, Fulford, Bishopthorpe, Riccall, Pocklington, Tadcaster, Howden and surrounding areas.
Plan and Book Your Visit
Select any activity graphic to view:
For help choosing an activity, arranging a larger event or combining several experiences, call 01757 289322.
Yorkshire Outdoor Activity Park
Escrick Park Estate, Broad Lane
Skipwith, Selby
YO8 5SW
Free on-site parking is available.