If they annoy you in the city, a trip to the Scottish Highlands of Stirling will give you a different experience with pigeons. For starters, clay pigeons share nothing more than the name with our urban feathered friends, apart from the fact that they fly. In addition, you won’t have to protect your sandwiches from these pigeons :)

Clay pigeon shooting is a target sport, in which you use a shotgun to fire at spinning clay disks that fly through the air - the pigeons. This sport is best enjoyed in open country, and that’s why we think that Stirling, known as the Gateway to the Highlands is the perfect place to train your aim to smash these moving targets to smithereens.

The old Scottish capital, which has a wolf on its coat of arms, is a historical treasure with a famous castle - fought over by William Wallace, Robert the Bruce and other national heroes. While the modern world doesn’t call for heroics of the same style, you’ll be celebrated by your family, friends or coworkers if you organise this unforgettable activity for you all to enjoy! From the lowland hills around the city, to the Highland valleys of Loch Lomond to the West, there are many places to enjoy this outdoor pursuit.

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

• Cambusbarron: within sight of the castle walls, Cambusbarron is set in the fine shooting country of the Touch Hills. Over 30 years of hosting clay pigeon shooting, the team here have learnt a couple of things about ensuring a top quality clay pigeon shooting experience: keep the groups small, and make sure that everyone has fun. This applies to novices, who can attend special sessions where there won’t be any experts to show them up, as well as experienced shooters who want to hone their skills.

• Bridge of Allan: this town, known locally as Bofa, is home to a group of passionate and experienced hunters who travel all over the country in search of adventure. They also travel with a mobile clay pigeon shooting set-up, meaning that they can bring the adventure to you! The outdoor area of your choice, as long as it meets size and safety requirements, can be the stage for a thrilling shooting experience, led by instructors whose knowledge and expertise you can rely on.

• Aberfoyle: in the Trossachs Hills, part of Loch Lomond National Park, you’ll find a real slice of traditional Scottish hospitality. Your father and son hosts, Fergus and Gregor, welcome you to their working sheep farm for a clay pigeon shoot to remember. You’ll find a hillside shooting range, complete with shooting stands built like traditional drystone walls, and a range of targets to fire at, against a backdrop of mountains and lochs.

Types of shooting experiences

- A clay pigeon shooting session is open to people of all levels and consists of firing from a static position at clays which are usually shot from multiple traps on the shooting range. Shooters stand side by side at the shooting stand, making it a perfect activity for groups. You’ll be able to see your friends’ shots and show off your own skills by hitting a pigeon dead on and sending shards of clay flying through the air. A shooting session will begin with a safety briefing and the assignment of the guns, both delivered by a trained instructor. You will be given a gun based on your size and strength, so if you don’t want to feel the recoil of a powerful gun let your instructor know. These sessions are usually organised by number of shots and targets, or by time, and range from an hour, to two and a half hours.

- While a session is the perfect choice for getting a taste for the sport, if you want to take up shooting as a hobby or work on your skills if you’re already an aficionado, we recommend that you take some shooting lessons. You can take a friend with you for a class with an instructor, or if you want their full attention, organise a one to one tuition session. Your instructor will take you through the basics and give you ample opportunities to practise, or analyse your technique and give you bespoke advice. Lessons with different kinds of guns are also a good choice - try your hand with a shotgun and a rifle in the same session to find out which one suits you better.

- Simulated shooting has been growing in popularity in recent years. This is a replication of traditional bird hunting, but without the animal cruelty. You’ll go off site and off road as a group with a guide, to specially set up shooting areas with concealed clay pigeon traps. These will release their targets from the undergrowth, just like a duck or grouse breaking cover, and put your aim to the test. Will you be able to shoot down these moving targets? Even if not, you’re sure to enjoy a full or half day’s rambling through this region countryside.

Requirements to do this activity

No animals are harmed in clay pigeon shooting, and there’s no reason for you to get hurt either because it’s a very safe sport. Having said that, you will have to be able to use a shotgun if you want to take part. There are different shotguns of different sizes and shapes so it’s an accessible sport, but who can shoot depends on the equipment available in each location. Some have a minimum age of 15 years old, whilst others don’t use an age restriction system, instead relying on individual assessment to pair each shooter with the right kind of gun. If you have questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch before your session.

We can’t recommend living this experience enough as a group activity. Not only does booking as a group get you handsome discounts, it also brings in the spirit of friendly competition. If it’s the first time for everyone in the group you might be surprised at who ends up hitting the most targets, whereas if you and your friends are already sharpshooters you can test each other's aim in a dynamic way. And all of this in the beautiful surroundings of Scotland!

That’s the plan, you just need to tell us the details and let’s organise your experience!