Shooting in Wales
North Wales certainly lives up to its description as an ‘Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty’ and is a truly delightful part of the world to visit! With it’s rugged mountains, rich forests, rolling hills, vales and coastal views, North Wales is considered, by many, to be an ideal location for shooting too. There are many opportunities to fulfil all of your needs, whether it be game, deer, wildfowl or pheasant shooting, or rough shooting. Basically, North Wales can accommodate all of your needs.
Interestingly, due to its spectacular surroundings and splendid scenic views, many locations within North Wales have been used for filming movies and many television series’, such as the second Tomb Raider movie, which was filmed in and around Snowdonia National Park, and the famous TV series, The Prisoner, which was filmed in the amazing Italian-themed villagette, known as Portmeirion, in Porthmadog. So, whether you’re shooting or just sight -seeing, this part of Wales really does have so much to offer!
What is Rough Shooting?
Rough shooting, also known as walk-up shooting, is a form of hunting where shooters walk through the countryside with their dogs to flush out game. Unlike driven shooting, where game is driven towards stationary shooters by beaters, rough shooting is more informal and involves a more active pursuit. Here are the key aspects of rough shooting:
1. Hunting Style: Shooters walk across fields, woods, or moorlands, often without a predetermined path, to find and shoot game birds or small mammals that are flushed out by their dogs.
2. Game Types: Common targets include pheasants, partridges, woodcock, rabbits, hares, and sometimes ducks or other waterfowl.
3. Dogs: Dogs play a crucial role in rough shooting. They are used to locate and flush out game from cover and retrieve downed birds. Breeds such as springer spaniels, labrador retrievers, and pointers are often preferred for their hunting abilities.
4. Equipment: A typical rough shooter will carry a shotgun, wear sturdy shooting clothing, and often carry game bags or vests for carrying the harvested game.
5. Environment: Rough shooting can take place in a variety of environments including farmland, woodlands, marshes, and moorlands.
6. Regulations: As with all forms of hunting, rough shooting is subject to local hunting laws and regulations, including seasons, bag limits, and licensing requirements. For more information check out the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) website.
Rough shooting is valued for its sport and the opportunity to enjoy a day outdoors, experiencing nature and honing shooting skills in a less structured setting than other forms of hunting.
Shooting in North Wales
Below is a sample of what North Wales can offer shooters:
- Pheasant shooting on large histroical estates such as Crogen Estate in Corwen
- Breathtaking coastal views whilst wildfowl shooting
- Rough shooting in and around National Parks
- Well organised shooting syndicates
- Accommodation in self catering cottages, B&B’s, bunkhouses, caravan parks, farmhouses, country houses or estates
- Historical sites, such as historical walls, buildings and castles
- Plenty of Open fields
So, when visiting North Wales, you are surrounded by beautiful, scenic countryside – and you definitely will not be disappointed!
It can often be time consuming – and not always easy – to locate a shooting site that meets with your own expectations. Perhaps you are looking for a site that has those spectacular coastal views, large open fields or those areas of woodland referred to above, in order that you may challenge your own skills. If this is the case, you’ll find below a collection of different shooting opportunities that we have gathered together for you to consider. They are all available in North Wales. (or at least within its close proximity).
Bodidris Shoot – Denbighshire
A fantastic shoot held on a sporting estate of over 3,000 acres. Here, you can enjoy traditional driven game, organised by a family run estate
Crogen Estate – Corwen
Set on 2,500 acres of stunning Welsh countryside within 210 miles of Marble Arch. With accommodation in the 8 bedroom Crogen Hall this is a spectacular experience.
Woodcock Hunting – Llyn Peninsula
Here, 4,000 acres of woodland and open ground offer driven woodland and walked up ground. Pheasant drives, woodcock, snipe and mallard shooting are all currently available.
Presaddfed – Holyhead
A fully modernised 17th century Manor House with breathtaking grounds is the scene for traditional mixed game shooting, including pheasant, duck, goose, woodcock and snipe, all available between the 1st October and the 31st January. This location is described in the The Field Magazine, as “A cracking mixed shoot”.
Pentrehobyn – Soughton Shoot, Mold
The challenging shoots here are in truly idyllic settings, and include steep valleys and tree lined pastures! Definitely worthy of consideration!
Carrog Shoot – Dee Valley
The driven shoots available here are set in the Berwyn mountains. You’ll find high curling birds, set in a mixed range of field shooting, woodlands, and moorland. You’ll find Pheasant shoots mainly, but wild duck and partridge are also available.
Bryngwyn Hall – Llanfyllin
The top quality shooting available at Bryngwyn Hall offers varying bags from 150 to 600 birds. A fantastic shooting ground set in the Bryngwyn Hall estate.
Long Mountain Shoot – Welshpool
Three shoots are available, covering 9,000 acres of oustanding beauty set within the Welsh marches. 15 drives of outstanding quality are avaialble.
Powis Castle Shoot – Mid Wales
Set within 3,000 acres of Powis Castle, you’ll find pheasant, partridge, duck and woodcock shoots available, in these superb suroundings.
Bettws Hall – Newtown
A stunning estate offering shooting suitable for complete beginners ior professionals! Pheasant shooting and partridge shooting are available.
Bodnant Estate – Conwy
Set near the stunning Snowdonia National Park, with semi driven/walked up days available,this is so worthy of a visit. It includes pheasant, duck and woodcock shooting.
Lake Vyrnwy Hotel and Spa – Llanwddyn, Powys
Lake Vyrnwy has been described as one of the greatest sporting estates of Wales and is known for its exceptional and challenging sport. Driven and walked-up game shooting available with lunch provided by the award winning Lake Vyrnwy Hotel.
Llanlliana Shooting Limited – Anglesey
Set along the beautiful Anglesey coastline, Llanlliana shoot offers groups a challenging and enjoyable experience of both mixed and wild shooting.
Llanfyllin Shoot Limited – Powys
A demanding shoot, with mature conifer/deciduous woodland, steep gorse, bracken banks and strategically planted crops, helping to provide a ‘challenge to experienced guns’. Driven and walked up shoots available!
Ruabon Moor
You could take up an opportunity for Partridge shooting on the Ruabon Moor! With over 7,000 acres of Welsh moorland, this is a challenging site, with sudden slopes, steep gills and valleys. As described by Sport Gun “It’s just like grouse coming to you from every conceivable angle, direction, speed and height and going like bullets curling deceptively against the sky“
Shooting Syndicates:
In addition to those listed above, there are shooting syndicates you may wish to contact. These are listed below:
North Wales Shooting Syndicate – http://www.northwalesshootingsyndicate.org.uk
Sporting Shoot – http://www.sportingshoot.co.uk
Suitable Accommodation:
If you are planning on making the most of your visit and want to stay over whilst attending your shoot, then there are many suitable Bed and Breakfasts, hotels and Inn’s that offer fantastic facilities. Below is a list of just a few of them:
If you are new to shooting, then you may find out Beginners Guide on Pheasant Shooting of interest. In this article we outline everything you need to know about pheasant shooting.
The above list of shoots is not exhauastive, and there are in fact other shoots available in North Wales. If your shoot is not included above, and you would like us to add yours to the list, then please send us an email at info@cherrytreecountryclothing.com. Likewise, if you would like to make any amendments to the entries above, then please do let us know!
[Updated 6 June 2024]
