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DEVON, ENGLAND
Challacombe was for some years managed by the nearby Castle Hill Estate where it first earned its great reputation, presenting us some of the most challenging partridge in the country whilst being surrounded by some of the most beautiful shooting scenery one can find. In 2015 additional land complementing the existing Challacombe grounds, meant new drives and the exciting option of pheasant added to the mix. This also enabled us to offer smaller, mixed days, through the latter months of the season.
Set in pure Exmoor landscape, the heart of the shoot is a reservoir surrounded by moorland. Through this, the birds are driven over the guns to astounding effect, offering dogs a veritable retrieving challenge. A wonderful spectacle for guns, dog handlers and onlookers alike.
The area has been occupied for millennia, with Neolithic standing stones, Bronze Age ring barrows, and an Iron Age hillfort nearby.
From London by car, the drive to Challacombe takes around 4.5 hours. By train, travel to Barnstaple, then taxi to Challacombe—total journey about 4 hours. There are also options to fly by helicopter or private jet.
The estate nestled in the rolling hills of North Devon, offers a mix of high pheasant and partridge drives across dramatic terrain. Teams rotate through carefully selected pegs, each drive delivering challenging, fast birds that test skill and reflexes. Elevenses—usually sloe gin and sausage rolls—are shared mid-morning, followed by more drives until lunch. After a leisurely meal in the field or lodge, shooting continues into the afternoon.
There are some wonderful pubs and hotels locally to the shoot as well as a number of private houses for extra privacy.
