Few English counties feel as effortlessly sporting as Gloucestershire. This is a landscape of honey-coloured Cotswold villages, the ancient oaks of the Forest of Dean and the broad, silver sweep of the River Severn, all crowned by the elegant Regency town of Cheltenham with its racecourse and festivals. It is country made for field sports, and clay pigeon shooting is woven deeply into its rural life. The rolling Cotswold escarpment and wooded valleys give ground designers a natural theatre in which to set testing, beautifully presented targets.
English Sporting is the heart of Gloucestershire shooting, with clays thrown to mimic driven game curling over the Cotswold hills, teal climbing steeply and rabbits running the valley floors. The county reputation as serious shooting country means many grounds also cater for the international FITASC discipline, along with Down-the-Line (DTL), Compak Sporting and English Skeet, all overseen by the Clay Pigeon Shooting Association (CPSA). The presentations here draw on a genuine heritage of driven game and simulated-game days across the great Cotswold and Severn Vale estates, lending the shooting an authenticity that keen Guns quickly appreciate.
Gloucestershire is a natural choice for a shooting short break. Base yourself among the Cotswolds honey-stone villages, or near Cheltenham with its racing and dining, and you can combine a morning at the clays with an afternoon exploring the Forest of Dean ancient woodland or walking the banks of the Severn, famous for its tidal bore. Beginners are welcomed with instruction covering safe gun handling, mounting and reading the target line, while experienced shots can test themselves on demanding sporting and FITASC courses set in some of England most attractive countryside.
For anyone drawn to the Cotswolds, clay pigeon shooting is a must-do that captures the region sporting spirit as fully as its landscapes and market towns. Grounds fill quickly at weekends and through the autumn season, so booking ahead is wise, both to secure a peg and to arrange an instructor if you need one. ClayPass maps clay grounds across Gloucestershire, helping you find the right discipline and venue for a memorable day in the field.