Although we don’t always admit it, most of us enjoy the experience of breaking things. It can release stress, create interesting patterns and effects, or simply give us the rush of doing something we know we shouldn’t. The opportunity to smash something is one of the key attractions of clay pigeon shooting. Unlike other shooting sports which involve aiming at the same thing time and time again, the target is different each time when you shoot at clay pigeons. The clays are similar to dinner plates, and are launched from a machine called a trap to fly in an arc through the air. With the help of a shotgun, it’s your job to hit clay and enjoy the rush of smashing it to smithereens. As it becomes one of the fastest growing sports in the UK, we’re recommending the county of Cambridgeshire as a prime location to take your first shots, or, if you’re already a sharpshooter, enjoy some unique challenges.

The wide landscapes of this region, in combination with a good climate of clear skies and relatively low wind speeds, make this a great spot for shooting. This activity’s popularity is thanks to its wide appeal. Though the idea of smashing dinner plates is good enough for some people, the concentration, poise and focus that are necessary in order to hit the target open the sport up to a wide variety of people. As it’s not necessary to have a shotgun licence or to be an adult to try it out, the whole family can get involved.

Where are the best places to go clay pigeon shooting in Cambridgeshire?

• Cambridge: home to the word famous University of Cambridge, this city is famous for its academic high-flyers. In the surrounding countryside, the high flying clays come thick and fast. And you don’t need a university degree to get involved in the fun, or even be old enough to go to university - the shooting is open to all ages and abilities.

• Whittlesford: a few miles up the River Cam from Cambridge, Whittlesford hosts a shooting range where clays can be combined with rifle shooting and archery, and other outdoor activities like quad biking. This is a great place to bring a group, whether it’s a your best mates on your hen or stag do, a youth organisation or a corporate away day.

• Huntingdon: the most famous resident of historic Huntingdon was Oliver Cromwell, the victor of the English Civil War who ordered the execution of the King, Cromwell created the disciplined New Model Army. You can train your aim, as Cromwell instructed his soldiers to, on the 80 acre clay shooting range outside town. With state of the art facilities and a number of shooting options, there’s a lot to enjoy here.

• St Neots: well connected to London and neighbouring counties by road, rail and river, St Neots is a popular destination for shooters. A number of ranges in the area offer traditional Down the Line and Skeet shooting, with taster sessions for beginners as well as imaginative shooting layouts for more of a challenge. Expert instructors are on hand to give you tips and guidance, so you’ll be hitting the targets in no time.

• Wisbech: in the North of the county, Wisbech is a town in the low lying, marshy fens. The populations of water birds made this a popular place for hunting, but nowadays the best things to shoot at are clay birds. First timers and veteran shooters will feel at home here, with everyone having a good chance of hitting a few clays and sending the shards flying.

Requirements to do this activity

Beginners are welcome at Cambridgeshire’s shooting ranges. You don’t need a licence or your own shotgun to take part because these are provided on site, and you’ll be in the hands of expert instructors who take your safety and enjoyment seriously. Children as young as 8 years old can take their first shots in some locations. But, due to the size and weight of the shotguns on offer, other ranges have a minimum age of 14 or 16 years old. If you’re already a regular shooter, you can take part in a range of imaginative and challenging shooting arrangements, from the classic Down the Line and Skeet variants, to more unique shoots. If you have a licence, you’re welcome to bring your own gun.

While other target sports can be solitary pursuits, this one is best done in teams. Typically, the trap launches the clays in an arc that’s perpendicular to the line of sight of the shooter. For this reason, up to five people can prepare to fire, standing in a line along the route of clay, and take turns to fire at each clay, one after the other. As you’ll change positions frequently, if you bring your friends, family or coworkers here to practise this activity, you’ll all have a turn to take the first shot at a clay. This is also an ideal team building exercise for this reason: everyone has an equal chance of hitting the clays, and you might be surprised by who turns out to be the best shit! It’s also a lot of fun for a competitive day out with your friends, and a perfect way to celebrate your birthday or have a stag or hen do to remember.

How long does this experience last?

You call the shots when it comes to the length of your experience. The shoot can be organised by time, or by the number of clays that are loaded into the trap. The shortest activities can be just half an hour long, using between 30 and 50 clays, but if you really want to maximise your chances of hitting a flock of pigeons you can opt for up to 200 clays, which might take up to two hours to get through. For those who want to develop their technique and aim, there are also lessons on offer in Cambridge. Lasting an hour or two, you’ll receive tuition from an experienced instructor who can arrange the shooting to best fit your ability and challenge you to improve.

Finally, this is just one of the outdoor activities that you can enjoy in this county and it’s easy to combine it with other adventures in one convenient package. Different target sports such as archery or air rifle shooting are a good option for working on your aim, or if you want to blow off steam in a completely different way, we recommend a quad bike ride after the shoot.

There are so many ways to enjoy this adventure here that we recommend you book one of them now, come back for more soon!