Where tradition marches with excellence - Eastnor Castle Shoot

High birds done properly

Many famous shoots nowadays are a mixture of game crops planted on far-off slopes where squadrons of high – sometimes almost too high – birds approach the line, having long since ceased flapping their wings.

Eastnor is not that. It sits in a bowl of the Malvern Hills with ancient woods, parkland-style grass fields and big old oak trees dotted everywhere. These are proper coverts, which mix the best of traditional species and thoughtful planting to create ideal flushing points.

Eastnor excels at many things, but chiefly the ability to show birds that we would all be chuffed to hit, but are down-able with a standard shotgun and cartridges, in stunning surroundings. These drives can be backed up with a few strategically placed partridges and ducks – though the latter, whilst excellent, are by no means obligatory.

Another area where Eastnor excels is in producing superb October sport. Their birds are fully tailed up earlier than almost anywhere else I know.

A modern fairy-tale castle

At the heart of the Estate lies the castle, in unchanged ownership since the 1600s. Built in the 1800s, it follows a similar plan to Belvoir; a fairytale castle but with proper plumbing and hi-speed broadband. A perfect venue for shooting parties – especially for those who wish to bring partners.

Fabulous en-suite bedrooms – nearly all of which are large and grand enough to host a 50-guest drinks party – are furnished with enormous beds (many four posted), antique wallpapers and spectacular original bathrooms.

The Pugin drawing room houses a wonderful bar, with almost any concoction you might imagine to tax the mixologists amongst you – before reclining on comfortable sofas by the enormous fire.

All meals are served in the vaulted dining room. The dinners are memorable, with superb cooking not hidden by fussiness. Breakfast is as good as it gets and lunch – well, that isn't bad either.

All of this is conducted in a very relaxed fashion – so relaxed in fact, that guests don't draw pegs outside until 10 am and finish before 4pm, having done 4 drives interspersed with spectacular elevenses on the battlements and lunch.

New blood

For the past three decades, the shoot has been lovingly developed by George Hervey-Bathurst. Now that his 70th year is behind him, George has handed on the project to his niece, Imogen. She is determined to build on those 30 years of excellence, with a few added and doubtless stylish touches of her own.

 Firthy's thoughts:

I’ve shot there over many years and can happily say that I have never felt let down. Indeed, my lasting impression has always been of my clients getting great value for money.

If you’re looking to host a wonderful party at which top sport lies at the heart of affairs, then look no further.

I’ve used a lot of castles for shooting parties over the years and have yet to find one that outstrips Eastnor.