Nordic Games in Herefordshire
Fancy a different kind of challenge? At The Viking Games, you can take on four exciting Nordic games in the beautiful Herefordshire countryside. From knocking down wooden skittles in Mölkky and Kubb to testing your aim in Stige and Bullrings, each game brings its own mix of skill, strategy and friendly competition.
Easy to learn but surprisingly challenging to master, our Nordic Games are perfect for friends, families and groups looking for something a little different. Work together, outsmart your opponents and see who has what it takes to claim victory.
Whether you’re planning a family day out, a birthday, a stag or hen party, or simply want to try something new, our one-hour Nordic Games experience offers plenty of laughs and a chance to discover four games you might never have played before.
£10 | 1 hour | 8 years upwards
Nordic Games prices and packages
NORDIC GAMES
per person
£10.60 when booking online
THE VIKING EXPERIENCE
per person
£47.70 when booking online
The Four Nordic Games
MOLKKY
Mölkky is a brilliantly simple throwing game that quickly becomes surprisingly competitive. The aim is to knock over numbered wooden skittles using a wooden throwing pin, but success takes more than just good aim. You’ll need to think
carefully about which pins to target and how to score the points you need.
The game starts with 12 numbered skittles arranged together. If you knock over just one skittle, you score the number printed on it. Knock over several skittles in one throw, and you score one point for each skittle knocked down. The
challenge is to reach exactly 50 points. Go over 50 and your score drops back to 25, so a confident throw can sometimes turn into a costly mistake!
Mölkky is easy to learn, making it a great choice for beginners, families and groups, but there is plenty of tactical thinking involved once the competition heats up. Do you aim for a high-value skittle to catch up, or play it safe
and build your score steadily? Every throw gives you another decision to make.
KUBB
Often known as the Viking lawn game, Kubb is a team-based game of throwing, tactics and teamwork. Played with wooden blocks, throwing batons and a central king, it’s a brilliant challenge for groups who enjoy a little friendly rivalry.
Two teams face each other across a playing area, with wooden kubbs lined up at each end. Players take turns throwing wooden batons underarm, trying to knock down the opposing team’s kubbs. But there’s a twist: kubbs knocked over can
be thrown back into the other team’s half and stood up again as field kubbs. These must be knocked down before a team can target the kubbs on the baseline.
The ultimate target is the king standing in the middle of the playing area. However, knock the king over too early and you can lose the game instantly! That means every throw matters, and teams must balance accuracy with a sensible
strategy.
STIGE
Stige, also known as ladder golf or ladder toss, is an entertaining test of accuracy and control. The name stige means “ladder” in Scandinavian languages, and the game challenges players to throw bolas, made from two weighted balls connected
by a cord, towards a ladder-shaped target.
The ladder has several horizontal rungs, and the goal is to land your bolas on them to score points. Different rungs are worth different amounts, so a throw that looks simple can become a real test of concentration. You’ll need to
judge the distance, control the swing of the bolas and find just the right throwing technique to land them where you want.
Of course, hitting the target is only part of the challenge. You’ll also want to score more points than your opponents, which means deciding whether to play it safe or attempt a riskier throw for a higher score. A little change in
technique can make all the difference, and the score can change quickly as each player takes their turn.
BULLRINGS
Bullrings is a deceptively challenging throwing game that proves you don’t always need complicated equipment to have a great competition. The objective is straightforward: throw a ring towards a target and try to land it on a hook. Sounds
easy, doesn’t it? Give it a few turns and you may discover that judging the distance, angle and swing takes rather more practice than you first thought!
Players take turns throwing their rings, aiming to hook them onto the target. The real challenge is finding the right combination of accuracy and control. Throw too hard and the ring can swing past the hook; throw too softly or at
the wrong angle and it may never reach its mark. Small adjustments can make a big difference, so watching your opponents and learning from each attempt can be just as useful as having a steady hand.
Bullrings is ideal for a bit of friendly rivalry because everyone gets the chance to improve with each throw. It’s simple enough for newcomers to enjoy, but tricky enough to keep experienced players trying to perfect their technique.
The closer you get to mastering the throw, the more satisfying it feels when the ring finally catches the hook.
Why Try Nordic Games at The Viking Games?
Looking for an activity that combines friendly competition, skill and plenty of laughs? Our Nordic Games offer something a little different from the usual outdoor activities.
With four games to try, there’s a challenge for everyone. Some reward precision, others require tactical thinking, and all give you the chance to compete with friends, family or colleagues.
Our instructors explain the rules so you can get straight into the action, even if you’ve never played before. Set in the Herefordshire countryside, it’s a great way to enjoy an hour outdoors and discover some unusual games along the way.