Nith Valley Sporting

Situated in south-west Scotland near the town of Dumfries, the Dalswinton Estate combined with a neighbouring estate offers a vast variety of driven shooting over some 5,000 acres with the focal point being Dalswinton House.

The respective families have owned these estates for over 100 years and have, up until eight years ago, been running the shoots separately. However, both families decided that by combining forces they could create a superb shoot providing an array of quality drives to suit every kind of shot.

The estates predominately releases pheasants with a few partridges, so can offer partridge only days in early October and then mixed days throughout the rest of the season. Days can be from 150 to 400 birds with six to nine guns in the line. Drives are mainly from mature woodland, although strategically planted game cover is used to make full use of the steep topography. Drives like Pedro’s, Fern Hill, the Quarry, Middle Hill and Birrell’s Wood normally leave a lasting memory of the one that got away! The Estates can also easily shoot on three consecutive days without going over the same ground twice.

Lunch is usually taken back at the house in the main dining room and at the end of day; teams return to the house for tea and then depart with a brace of oven-ready birds. If teams prefer to shoot through then this is not a problem as the shoot is entirely flexible. Coffee on arrival, 11’s, lunch, drinks and tea are all included in your day.

The majority of parties stay in comfortable accommodation nearby, which has room for up to nine couples, all with their own bathroom, although not necessarily en-suite. Menus and any other requirements are all agreed before your arrival. Parties have complete use of the house, including a full sized snooker table. There is a very relaxed and informal atmosphere and no stone is left unturned in making you feel at home.

The nearest airports are Glasgow or Edinburgh, both approximately 1½ hours away. Private planes can land at Carlisle, just 45 minutes away. There is an excellent 4hr train service between London Euston and Carlisle or Lockerbie, which is closer. Arranging pick-ups and transfers is not a problem and your hosts are more than happy to lend guns and supply cartridges.

Testimonials:

“I’ve stayed and shot on many estates and estancias around the world, but I keep on coming back to south-west Scotland as I enjoy the shooting, the jovial atmosphere and the comfortable accommodation which makes for a winning trip every time” Bill H. Connecticut

“Next season will be my 10th consecutive trip up north and it couldn’t be easier to get to from London as I take the train from Euston around 2ish and then I’m enjoying drinks and canapés by 7 having had a relaxed and pleasant journey.” Malcolm B. London

Other activities:

For non-shooting guests, there is plenty to see and do ranging from garden tours, playing golf on numerous Links Courses, fishing for salmon on the rivers Nith or Annan, museums and Prince Charles’ Dumfries House is only an hour away.