Phoenix Rifle Club runs one of the more unusual indoor shooting ranges in the UK: a 200-metre range built inside a former railway tunnel on Barry Island, a short drive from Cardiff. It’s a Home Office-approved facility used for full-bore, small-bore, and air rifle shooting, and it’s open to visitors as well as members.
A 200m Range Inside a Former Railway Tunnel
The tunnel was originally built for the railway that carried coal from the South Wales valleys down to Barry Island’s docks, at one time one of the busiest coal-exporting ports in the world. When rail freight through the tunnel ended, the line was later converted into a shooting range by Crownhouse Armoury. The last train to pass through was filmed, and that footage is still viewable on the club’s site.
Because it follows the original rail bed, the range is dead straight, fully level, and has no angle of inclination – there’s no elevation change to account for, the way there would be on a hillside outdoor range. Combined with being fully enclosed, that means no wind, no rain, and no light changes to correct for, which matters as much for a beginner learning a stable position as it does for someone chronographing a long-range load.
The range is rated to .50 calibre, with firing points and target stations at 25m, 50m, 100m, 150m and 200m from a single bench, so shooters can work at multiple distances without resetting up. It’s this combination – 200 metres, indoors, rated to .50 cal – that makes it one of only a small handful of ranges like it anywhere in the UK.
What’s at the Range
Target areas are lit with floodlighting so aim points stay clearly visible through optics at every distance. A target retrieval system brings targets back to the firing point rather than requiring a walk downrange between strings. Away from the firing line, there’s a member’s lounge and small shop, separate from the range itself, plus a firearm servicing station for cleaning and maintenance between sessions.
Calibres up to .338 Lapua Magnum are routinely shot on the range, and downloaded .50 BMG loads are permitted subject to Range Officer approval on the day.
Who Uses the Range
The range supports a mix of shooters: full-bore club members working on precision and long-range technique, small-bore and gallery rifle shooters, and Mini Rifle sessions for family members, guests and newcomers under supervision. Range Officers are present to run sessions, and new members go through a firearms induction and range-safety briefing before shooting unsupervised.
If you’re new to the sport rather than joining outright, visitor sessions can be booked through Visitor Day Registration. Full details on the facility itself, including photos, are on the facility page, and membership routes and requirements are covered on the membership page.
Getting to the Range from Cardiff and South Wales
Barry Island sits in the Vale of Glamorgan, close enough to Cardiff that most members treat it as a normal commute. Approximate drive times:
- Cardiff – around 25 minutes
- Vale of Glamorgan (local) – around 20 minutes
- Newport – around 40 minutes
- Bridgend – around 35 minutes
- Swansea – around 1 hour
Based closer to one of these towns? See our dedicated pages for driving directions and visit options from Bridgend, Cowbridge, Porthcawl, and Penarth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the range open all year round?
Yes. Because it’s fully enclosed inside the tunnel, weather has no effect on shooting – the range runs on its normal schedule regardless of rain, wind, or season.
What’s the longest distance you can shoot indoors here?
200 metres, with firing points also set up at 25m, 50m, 100m and 150m so shorter-distance practice doesn’t require a different range.
What calibres can I shoot?
The range is rated up to .50 calibre. Rimfire and centrefire rounds up to .338 Lapua Magnum are shot regularly, and downloaded .50 BMG is permitted with Range Officer approval.
Can a complete beginner try shooting here?
Yes. Visitors book through Visitor Day Registration and go through a safety briefing before shooting; Mini Rifle sessions in particular are set up for newcomers and family groups under supervision.
Do I need a firearms licence to visit?
Full-bore club membership requires the appropriate UK firearms licensing (FAC) once you join, but Mini Rifle sessions for visitors and guests don’t require a personal licence – see Visitor Day Registration for what’s needed to book a session.