Exmoor Archers
with
Pip Bickerstaffe
and the Shirebowman held the inaugural
Devon Rove,
on the
21 September 2025
What is a Rove?
Roving is the informal practice of shooting at random or natural targets across varying distances in the countryside. It occurs over a full-day and is a relaxed competition. Archers shoot at a flag or other object and scores are based on how close your arrow falls to the target. You then walk to that spot and shoot again at the next target. All wooden bows and synthetic non takedown recurves can be used. The only rule is that you must use wooden arrows. We will be roving over the beautiful estate lands of Castle Hill.
NEXT Rove
We are currently looking for a new venue for our next North Devon Rove.
About the Castle Hill 2025 Rove
The rove is open to all archers regardless of any other membership affiliations.
Wooden bows or non-takedown recurves shot as barebow can be used.
All archers are required to use wooden arrows.
Archers will shoot 3 arrows at a time.
As arrows can get lost or broken, it is important that you bring extra arrows. Depending on how the course is laid out, you may need as many as 9 arrows in your quiver.
Signing in will be 9.15 am to 9.45 am. First arrows at 10 am.
Certificates will be presented to the winners at the end of the day.
On the Day
Free parking is available on-site.
Breakfast: 8:00 am – 9:30 am. The Tea Rooms will be open for bacon baps and other breakfast fare. Come early and enjoy your breakfast or second breakfast on site!
Lunch: There will be a 75 minute lunch break in the middle of the day. Light lunches and teas and coffee can be purchased on-site from Castle Hill’s Tea Rooms next to the car park area. This is being opened especially and exclusively for the rove archers, so please make use of it!
There are toilet facilities on site.
Accommodation in the Area
We will be based in South Molton, about 4 miles from Castle Hill. In South Molton there is the Coaching Inn or The George, both of which have good accommodation and plenty of parking. There is also the Bell Inn Chittlehampton. Additionally, there are campsites nearby, the closest being Riverside Caravan Park, and many Air BNBs. We have arranged a rove archers’ meal on Sunday evening after the rove at the Bell Inn, Chittlehampton.
Important Information
To register for the rove, please read this document, which provides details of the day’s shooting.
Rove Contacts: The Rove Registrar is Bernadette Brady: b.brady [at] uwtsd[dot]ac[dot]uk, please put ROVE in the title line of the email. Also you can contact Pip Bickerstaffe .
