SHOTGUN PERMITS
All UK residents owning a shotgun must hold a current UK Shotgun Certificate. The former is available from your local police station and can take up to three months to process so it is essential to apply in plenty of time. Hire guns are available for those who don't own their own shotgun.

THIRD PARTY LIABILITY INSURANCE
All guns should have Third Party Liability Insurance cover of up to £5,000,000 per gun in case of any unfortunate accident. We insure all of our days for this which means that you are automatically covered, if you book a day with us, through our blanket policy.

CLIMATE
Summer in England is notoriously changeable, from cold and wet to hot so come prepared for every eventuality.

CLOTHING
Whatever clothing one chooses to wear, comfort and protection against the elements are most important. Lightweight slacks/chinos or jeans are fine - traditional plus-fours are not neccessary. Bring a coat in case of rain. A shoulder pad and glove, plus ear defenders are a must.

FOOTWEAR
Bear in mind that you will be standing in the outdoors, so boots, sturdy shoes or wellingtons are advisable.

The party meets at the farm for 8.45am for a bacon roll and a cup of coffee, at which point a short safety briefing is given. This also sets the tone for the day which is all about entertainment. The guns will then draw their numbers before heading out into the beautiful countryside to find their pegs for the first drive.

It is extraordinary how much fun guns have poaching their next door neighbours' birds and competitive team banter and leg-pulling is a vital ingredient of the day. What makes this totally different from any other simulated game day is that it is far from just providing driven birds. Whilethere are four traditional driven drives it is the wildfowl and vermin, the flashing woodcock and the Gnats that tend to generate the most excitement. These are totally unique to Hilldrop.

1st Drive - Waterloo: This is a rather special English partridge drive. The pegs are positioned relatively close to a high hedge and it is over this that most coveys tend to come. The drive has, historically, produced birds from all directions: from crossing 'hedge hoppers' to high, handsome squadrons of partridge and even the occasional 'French partridge' (distinctive due to their red legs) which must not be missed.

2nd Drive - Pheasant: Due to its steep valleys, Hilldrop's reputation as a superb pheasant shoot is unsurpassed. Our simulated pheasant drive 'Kite Hill' is no different. The birds are pushed out of a game crop on top of the ridge and flight out across the valley - the best of these frequently climbing to well over 120 feet. Additionally, you will also see coveys of tiny Snipe - spotting these little blighters is one thing, shooting them though may prove quite another!

Drinks: Time to relax and reflect. Refreshments are served at the highest point of the estate, with spectacular views over the Marlborough Downs and where tales of shooting prowess become commonplace.

3rd Drive - Wildfowl and Vermin: The 'Wildfowl and Vermin' drive should really test your game-keeping instincts! In rapid combination, one can expect to shoot flighted duck, springing teal, crossing pigeons, coot and crows, plus the rare and rapid 'Hilldrop Rabbit'! To make it more interesting the guns are placed in duck hides and the wildfowl will be coming from left and right as well as behind and in front of you. This means that while you are looking in all directions, your barrels roasting, your neighbour will almost certainly be adhering to one of the Hilldrop Commandments 'thou shalt covet thy neighbours birds'!

Lunch: A delicious lunch will be held in the 'shoot room'.

4th Drive - Grouse: After lunch, the guns will be taken up onto the compact grouse moor and shown into the butts for a flavour of Scotland in a drive known as 'Ptarmigan'. Shooting grouse is a completely different discipline to the morning's shooting, as the birds are much quicker and literally hug the contours of the land. The secret here is quick loading - hence slick teamwork with your loader is essential. Grouse come, at pace, from every direction and this is why many believe this to be the most memorable of all the drives.

5th Drive - Pheasant Finale: Practice makes perfect and, as we move to our second high pheasant drive, 'The Himalayas', we put you to the test. Teams are divided into two, with each one setting up its defences before attempting to enforce a 'take no prisoners' rule. In the meantime, we will be counting those clays that 'escape' with special attention to 'Reeve Pheasants and Crows' - these instantly recognisable clays are five times more important to the team than the standard pheasants.

Other Options

In addition Hilldrop boasts two other pheasant and partridge drives, enabling us to create almost any combination of simulated drives. But for those who really want something different we have:

Woodcock and Snipe: Moving to a mixed oak and beech woodland, guns will go into hides within the wood and, once the drive starts, some fairly testing birds will jink through the trees around you.

The Flash Woodcock: This is normally run as a mini-competition. Once again the guns are in hides but within a mature Oak wood. A team captain is nominated and after a Churchillian speech when each gun is instructed to take specific birds and cover any missed birds the drive starts. These coloured woodcock will be coming as fast as you can load and all your captain's strict instructions will be totally forgotten and a sort of chaotic anarchy will follow. To make matters just a fraction more interesting the rare Hilldrop Hare will be make several runs and there are also pink birds of prey. Shooting one of these protected species in the heat of battle will lead to points being deducted.

Snap Shooting: Visualise that moment when you are standing in a wood barely able to see through the trees and, suddenly, a bird whips over the canopy; you raise your gun, shoot and it sails serenely on, completely untouched. All one can do is run for cover - as angry branches decide to return the compliment!

The Gnats: While not necessarily for the purist, these flying aeroplanes can add the final X factor to what we believe to be the most diverse and entertaining simulated shoot in the country. These aeroplanes can fly at up to 80mph and have pyrotechnics under their wings. When hit there is mini explosion. The Gnats do several fly pasts at the Grouse and final Pheasant flush and there is an ultimate satisfaction of bringing one of these down!

Tea: The day finishes at around 4.30 pm with tea (or perhaps something a little stronger if needs be)and some of Ramsbury's legendary millionaire's shortbread.

Partners can either stand by pegs at the shoot, or visit many of the attractions of the surrounding area, including shopping in Marlborough, visiting Oxford etc.

Based near the village of Ramsbury in Wiltshire, between the towns of Marlborough and Hungerford, just off the M4, an hour and a quarter from London.

To see the map and directions, please click here.