Best shooting weekend getaways in England and Wales
Where to book in for shooting around the country - whether you're shooting locally and need a room with a gun cabinet and somewhere for your dog to sleep. Or whether you fancy booking shooting for a few days away. Or maybe learning to start shooting.
Simulated game days are helping people cross the bridge between clay-pigeon and game shooting
Fancy a few days away to brush up on your shooting? After the year we’ve all had, we thought we’ve compile a list of the best shooting weekend getaways in England and Wales. All offer shooting, clayshooting and deer stalking nearby. You will find secure storage for your gun and many will welcome your gun dog. At the end of the day you’ll enjoy delicious food – game is the menus whenever possible – and sleep soundly in a comfortable bed. What more could you want? (If you’re relatively new to the field you might want to read our piece on what to wear shooting.)
Best shooting getaways
1. The Duncombe Arms, Derbyshire
The Duncombe Arms
A beautiful hotel that provides a perfect base if you’re shooting in the area. Eight of the 10 rooms have a gun cabinet and many are dog friendly. (Glance at our list of best gun dog beds to make sure your faithful hound is comfortable. There’s also a private dining room if you want to catch up with your shooting friends over a convivial dinner after your day. So it definitely had to be on our list of best shooting getaways.
The Duncombe Arms
The pub restaurant has just the sort of relaxed atmosphere sought after, has been awarded two rosettes from the AA, and has been nominated Best Dining Pub in Staffordshire for 2018 and 2019.
2. The Dundas Arms, Kintbury, Berkshire
The Dundas Arms
Just an hour from London, this is perfect if you’ve received a shooting invitation nearby. Book a dog-friendly room complete with a gun cabinet and you’re away. Alternatively you can organise clayshooting locally and the hotel also offers clayshooting packages which can be given as gifts. Fly-fishing can also be arranged on the River Kennet, a famous chalkstream that meanders alongside the hotel.
3. Howard’s House, near Salisbury, Wiltshire
Howard ‘s House Hotel
If you fancy brushing up on your shooting skills and having some tuition, this would be an excellent place to start. Clay pigeon shooting is offered in nearby Teffont and simulated game shooting in Broadchalke. Those coming for driven shooting will be challenged – the Nadder Valley has high bird days from the start of the season until February and there is also woodland stalking nearby.
4. Tarr Farm, Exmoor
Tarr Farm
Plenty of choice here whether you are looking for rough walked-up shooting or a formal driven shoot. The hotel will make all the arrangements for you and within a half hour drive you will find five of the best commercial shoots in Europe. You just need to bring your gun. The hotel was designed with the comfort of shoot teams firmly in mind and will organise special breaks to suit a group. Dogs are welcome and each of the nine ensuite rooms has its own gun safe.
The hotel looks over Tarr Steps on the River Barle.
5. Notley Arms, Monksilver, Somerset
Notley Arms Monksilver
If you want to take over a venue for a group of shooters, then this country pub with magnificent accommodation fits the bill to perfection.
There is plenty of shooting nearby, including Coombe Sydenham. Newly refurbished rooms offer a comfortable place to dream after a day out in the fields.
Notley Arms Somerset
6. The Devonshire Arms, North Yorkshire
Devonshire Arms, North Yorkshire
Stay here and you’ll enjoy being in prime sporting country. The Bolton Abbey shoot is on the doorstep and there are plenty of other pheasant and grouse options in easy reach.
During the 19th century the Royal Family would stay at Bolton Abbey for grouse shoots and The Devonshire Arms, which was often used for hospitality, expanded, so that by 1840 it could stable twenty horses and four carriages.
Much of the artwork has come from Chatsworth’s Devonshire Collection, one of the finest private art collections in Europe.
7. The White Horse Hotel, Chilgrove, West Sussex
White Horse Hotel
Stay here and you can take advantage of the full shoot butler service. Gun cabinets are available, and the hotel describes itself by saying: ““This country pub is the quintessential English shooting lodge: log fire, stunning private dining room, fine wine, dog-friendly and the landlady is a keen Gun herself.”
8. Arundell Arms, Lifton, Devon
Arundell Arms Hotel
If you’re a country sports lover then you couldn’t really be in a better place.
The hotel offers deer stalking as well as driven pheasant, driven snipe and rough shooting. Evening duck flighting is also available. There is something for the experienced gun or for those looking to learn something new. (Read our tips on driven pheasant shooting.)
9. Lake Vyrnwy Hotel, Powys
Lake Vyrnwy Hotel
This sporting hotel has almost everything a sportsman could wish for. There’s a secluded 24,000-acre game shoot on its doorstep; rooms overlooking a 60,000 mega-litre reservoir; a fully licensed pub and even a spa for non-shooting guests. The 52 rooms – 34 with lake views (21 have their own balcony) – are either Victorian or contemporary in design.
Guns seeking to get their eye in during spring and summer can enjoy clayshooting on the estate, while the trout in the reservoir are an equally strong attraction. During the season you can book both walked-up and driven days.
10. The Victoria, Holkham, Norfolk
The Victoria Holkham
Last but definitely not least on our list of best shooting weekend getaways. Rooms here are called by names such as “Hanging Fallow” and “Joe’s Stop” after the drives on the next-door Holcombe estate. It’s a rabbit warren of a hotel, large and rambling, with many bars and snugs and you can also arrange private dining. Dogs are welcome in several of the rooms and there are also kennels available.
This article on best shooting weekend getaways was originally published in 2014 and has been updated
