Pheasant, Partridge and Snipe

When autumn comes the character of the hotel and the country changes. The fisherman go, the shooting parties arrive with the spaniels and labradors and the talk now by the fire in the bar is of high birds and driven snipe. There is nothing new about coming to Devon for the shooting - Negley Farson was doing just that in the 1920's, for woodcock, pheasant and black grouse. Were he to return today, he would not find a blackcock, but would be astounded by the quality of the pheasant shooting, for which the country is now famous.

Many shoots locally can provide not only high pheasants but also partridge, along with woodcock and snipe, and evening duck flighting. The driven snipe shooting, which was pioneered here in the 1930's is still a major feature for guests at the Arundell Arms. Steadily since then more and more farms and estates are realising the full potential of their shooting, and now the hotel is awash with shooters from late October right through to the end of the season in January.