Wildfowling in Dumfries & Galloway

Dumfries & Galloway, United Kingdom

Welcome and thank you for taking the time to read a little about the exciting and mixed sport on offer at Arbigland estate... Sport and Fun for all is the Arbigland motto - Days are varied in style and range from * Driven Days -  ideally suiting teams looking for 125 - 150 birds per day. Several 200 birds are available throughout November and early December * Mini Driven Days circa 50 -70 birds from late October through to late January * Walked Up / Rough Shooting from late October through January – good mixed bags to include Pheasant, Partridge, Duck, Snipe, Rabbit, Hares and possibly Geese. * Pigeon Shooting – July, August and early September * Goose shooting from late October to January * Duck flights from September to January Arbigland Topography and Shoot Layout: Birds are shown from a mixture of woods and cover crops. Arbigland is primarily a Pheasant shoot but small numbers of Partridge and Mallard are also put to wood.  Getting around on the shoot is easy with no need for 4x4s as good roads and tracks outline each drive. Gun pegs are easily accessible with no big hillsides to climb or raging rivers to wade across… The shoot has 8 main drives spread over 1200 acres with several smaller drives for mini days and walked up / rough days spread over a further 1000 acres. The main drives show good sporting and challenging birds suitable for teams looking for a fun and relaxing days sport. All the drives are hopper feed allowing for a more natural presentation of the birds. Bird numbers from drives vary from “day to day” but a typical 150 bird day for 8 guns is easily reached and usually shot over 5 or 6 drives. Pegs are positioned in open fields or along the shore…standing on the beach is something many guns find quite amusing and a little different ! Being coastal the prevailing winds can sometimes play the game “how fast can pheasants really fly?”as guns see them whiz by at MACH 1   Overall Arbigland is a pretty, slightly romantic shoot offering good sporting birds at a great price for all to enjoy. A typical driven shoot day itinerary includes: 8.45am.Meet and greet – coffee and a chat covering safety and the plan of action for the day. 9.00am.Off for the first of 2 drives. 11am.Quick pit stop for refreshments and a bite to eat. 11.30am. Two more drives before lunch. 1pm.Lunch time – For driven days guns take lunch and refreshments in the House on the Shore. 2pm.Depending on the bag and size off the day off to the last drive or two 3.30pm.End of day chat, refreshments and a chance for guns to meet all the helpers involved in the day - present guns with a brace(s) of birds to take home. Please do not hesitate to email for any sporting day ( big or small ) you are looking for this season. We would be happy to help with accommodation, close by are many nice properties ranging from homely B&Bs, Self Catering cottages, Hotels and Stately Homes. For teams looking to shoot back to back days or several days in a week there are several estates locally we can help book days to suit you. Syndicates, Single Guns or Small teams are more than welcome. If the dates on offer do not suit your requirements, please get in touch to see if we can help with alternatives. The ancient Barony of Arbigland comprises farmland, woodland and foreshore on the Solway Firthcoast bounded by the River Nith near Dumfriesin the South West of Scotland. We look forward to welcoming you soon

Dumfries & Galloway, United Kingdom

Good traditional shooting requires spectacular terrain, high and fast birds, easy access to pegs and planning to suit all skill levels. Craigadam ticks all the boxes. Richard Pickup owns Craigadam and runs a neighbouring estate, and is able to provide up to 5 days back-to-back shooting when required. Richard hosts all the days personally. 12,000 acres of mostly south facing drives with views over the Solway Firth and Almoness Peninsular. Craigadam has game crops, loose gullies, bracken banks and small woods which are all well roaded; well known drives include the Kings Chair, Crofts Quarry, Jean Dunns Wood and Fiddle Wood. At the other, there are mainly high rises, Almoness High Stand, Keys Hill, and Larches to name a few, with exceptionally good pheasants. The Almoness peninsular driver out over the Solway shore with superb partridge drives. We specialise in 150-400 bird days. A driven day normally runs as follows: * At 9.15am tea and coffee and allocation of pegs * 3-4 drives with a stop for sloe gin and champagne * A hearty lunch with wine and port * 1-2 drives * Afternoon tea with cakes and scones Guests stay at Craigadam House which is central to the shoot. It has 10 luxury ensuite rooms with a billiard room and bar. The winners of Taste of Scotland Award source their produce from their own butchery on the estate. * Arrival at Craigadam for Afternoon tea * A four course dinner produced by award winning chef Celia Pickup * Fabulous luxurious bedrooms with private ensuites * Full Scottish Breakfast * A delicious shoot lunch * Afternoon tea with homemade cakes Hospitality is key to the Pickups, offering help with permits, insurance, gun hire, cartridges and minders if needed. Craigadam is perfectly situated for non-shooting activities such as private fishing, cycling, golf, birdwatching, historical sites and there are beautiful open gardens in the area. Carlisle, Glasgow and Edinburgh are an easy distance for retail therapy. Rough shooting is also available with a variety of pheasant, partridge, duck, snipe and woodcock to be had. Trains run regularly from London Euston to Carlisle and we can arrange collection from here if necessary.