Soundborough Shoot, Cotswolds
Shoot · Gloucestershire · 143 followers
143 followers
Soundborough is a sporting estate owned by Ian and Elizabeth Wills and their son James near Andoversford in the Cotswolds. The shoot covers about 1400 acres of rolling ground, with four main valleys and a large area of cover crops and small mixed woodlands. The shoot was formed 25 years ago as a family shoot and is keepered by Andrew Holloway. Over the years it has progressed to about 25 days shooting of which two thirds are let. Every day is hosted by the family and should give an informal and relaxed feeling and that the estate is yours for the day. Trained dogs and your own vehicles are welcome.
The shoot has gained a good reputation for testing pheasants and partridges. September and October are partridge days and the rest of the season is mixed pheasant and partridge shooting. We mostly shoot once a week and normally on Thursdays or Fridays.
Every day begins with welcome drinks and a briefing for the day. There will normally be two drives then drinks/refreshments in the field. Two further drives then a two course lunch in the newly refurbished shoot room with all drink provided. The afternoon will consist of another one or two drives depending on the bag. Afternoon tea will be served back at the dining room, with a chance to reflect on the day. We can 'shoot through' should team prefer.
We have on offer a few whole days with bags of 200 to 250 birds.
Hospitality
Coffee on arrival. Bacon rolls if required. Elevenses with champagne in the field. Two course lunch with drink provided. Tea and cake to finish.
Birds
Testing partridges and pheasants shown from cover crops and small woodlands which are situated on banks over typical Cotswold valleys.
Topography
Rolling Cotswold valleys. A mix of arable and grassland valleys broken up by Small woodlands. Extensive use of cover crops and a Countryside Stewardship scheme.
Conservation Efforts
Both a Countryside stewardship scheme and the Sustainable farming incentive are utilised to increase biodiversity on the estate. Some of the options used are pollen and nectar mixes, wildflower margins, wild bird seed mixes and supplementary feeding through the hungry gap.
About the hosts
Shoot days are hosted by the owner James Wills giving you a personal and relaxed day. The shooting is managed by Head keeper Andrew Holloway.
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Reviews
S. S. B.
We have been to a few cotswold shoots and what can I say. Very impressed with how the whole team were always in the shooting there was something for everyone. You could pick some lovely birds and there was always something to really test you if you wanted to, despite the very still sunny day. Great hospitality, we shot through, had time for in field nibbles and drinks (never felt rushed) finished off with a wonderful sit down dinner. Will definitely be back!
Visit: January 14th 2025
R. W.
This is a fantastic shoot that will look after you and give you so much fun, I can't recommend it enough I have been several times.
Visit: multiple visits
R. B.
I shot on a mixed partridge and pheasant day (250 birds) at Soundborough in November 2013 and found the whole day to be thorughly enjoyable. The driveway through from the entrance to the Estate to the shoot room (a lovely converted barn) was enough to whet my appetite. As i drove along the winding valley bottom banks either side of me gave me a falvour of what to expect. The team and I were made to feel most welcome by the Wills family and their concientious game keeper, Andrew Holloway. The shoot has a friendly feel and balances providing testing shooting with warm hospitality - it was a let day but it felt more like we were guests on a family day. The drives were varied with some open valleys (East Hill was amazing!) to more snappy shooting in the main valley (Plover). We had a lovely day and I would reccomend Soundborough to anyone who wants to combine testing partridge and pehasant shooting with warm hospitality all wrapped up in some glorious Cotsowld countryside.