The best sports to try in Berkhamsted
If all of the hype being generated around the college basketball picks as we head into March Madness season is anything to go by, the people of Berkhamsted are sports mad. And this obsession with all things athletic doesn’t just stick to watching and placing online bets – it also extends to actually playing sports!
As with the rest of Hertfordshire, Berkhamsted is very much a sporting town. This is helped in no small part by the many excellent sports teams – such as Berkhamsted F.C. – that call this little slice of the world home.
But for those of you living around this lively little town situated among the Chiltern Hills and wanting to get in some exercise or spend some time in the great outdoors, what options do you have available?
Spend the afternoon on the fairways
One option that is popular with all ages is golf! Berkhamsted Golf Club is nestled around 600 feet up in the Chiltern Hills and is situated on one of the biggest expanses of heathland in the Hertfordshire region. The Berkhamsted Golf Club is surrounded by lush gorse and heather bushes, and has plenty of trees to add a natural feel to the fairways.
In terms of the design, the course measures 6,605 yards in length off the white tees, which presents players of all skill levels the perfect opportunity to test their power on the drives. Interestingly, the course is currently bunker-free and instead sports plenty of grassy mounds to challenge your technical skills. This is in addition to plenty of pristine greens to get some putting practice on!
In addition to being situated in an area of outstanding natural beauty, the course at Berkhamsted Golf Club also offers plenty of off-fairway entertainment options. These include a clubhouse, around which much of the club’s socialising centres, as well as a well-stocked pro shop.
Fire off some arrows
One of the more unusual sporting options open to Berkhamsted residents is the local archery club – the Berkhamsted Bowmen.
Interestingly, this is the oldest archery club in England and has been operating continuously since 1950. It offers a range of different bow disciplines, including longbow, recurve and compound. The Bowmen offers a lively programme of training activities, with shooting on offer during both the winter and summer months.
Perhaps best of all, the Bowmen offer a range of different training courses for beginners and intermediates, which are the perfect opportunity to try out the sport for the first time or to sharpen your bow skills!
Play the beautiful game
Following the collapse of the historic Berkhamsted Town team in 2009, Berkhamsted F.C. emerged and helped to re-establish the beautiful game in Berkhamsted!
Despite being a little over a decade old, Berkhamsted F.C. have quickly established themselves both among fans and in the Southern League Division One. The 2021-22 season saw them finish up in second place out of 20 teams, and the signs are similarly positive for the 2022-23 season!
With that said, if you have any interest in the beautiful game, why not pop down to the Broadwater stadium to see Berkhamsted F.C. play live!
Take advantage of the public spaces on offer
One of the best things about Berkhamsted – and one of the reasons we believe it is a hidden gem in Hertfordshire – is the abundance of green open spaces.
Berkhamsted reaps the benefits of having a large National Trust common and woodland that runs along its north-east border, which provides plenty of green spaces for those looking to enjoy the great outdoors! Berkhamsted also benefits from having a wildlife corridor along the River Bulbourne, as well as public green spaces at the castle and at Butts Meadow.
If you are living in Berkhamsted, we highly recommend making the most of these gorgeous open spaces. They are perfect for a range of different sports you can pick up and try, although running and cycling seem to be particularly popular these days – even despite the cold weather!
Check out the sports centre
If you don’t fancy braving the cold that seems to be ever-present around Berkhamsted these days, another great option to get some activity in is to check out the local sports centre!
Run by Everyone Active, the Berkhamsted Leisure Centre offers a range of different facilities to help keep you active. These include a gym, swimming pool, sports hall and football pitch. These are available to use on a pay-as-you-go basis or as part of a membership package.
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