When 20th-century literary critic John Gross, once described as ‘The best read man in Britain’, was asked towards the end of his life where the hero of Lorna Doone went to school, he fell uncustomarily silent. The answer, of course, known to every West Country schoolboy and girl, was Blundell’s in Tiverton, and nowhere would RD Blackmore’s epic Exmoor landscape be so little changed in 150 years than on the Molland estate, just north of South Molton.
Renowned over the years as a destination high-bird shoot, Molland, with more than 6,000 acres and a welcoming pub, the London Inn, a short walk from the main house, has long appealed to serious sportsmen. Part of the attraction is the unique stillness and landscape of the place, the privacy and majestic sighting of stags and hinds, and the small market towns of Dulverton, Dunster and seaside Porlock, where Coleridge wrote The Ancient Mariner.
To this may now be added the top class accommodation and hospitality of Molland House, now under the umbrella of Angus Barnes’s well-regarded Loyton Sporting portfolio. This has come about chiefly through Barnes’s fellow director, Piers Vaux – another hunting man steeped in Exmoor lore – who has long looked after Molland’s sporting interests.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der October 2020-Ausgabe von The Field.
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Diese Geschichte stammt aus der October 2020-Ausgabe von The Field.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
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Going over old ground
Forget modern tractors and minimum tillage - there is something glorious about the sight of farmer, horse and vintage plough in perfect harmony
Return of the natives
There is nothing as satisfying as creating a magical miniature woodland or conservation hedgerow using our native trees - and now is the best time to start.
Tagging the Cornish tunny
Enormous Atlantic bluefin tuna are once again making waves in UK waters almost a century after their showstopping appearance in the North Sea
In it for the long haul
It may have fallen out of favour at the elite level but long-format three-day eventing is still proving popular with grassroots riders
Unpicking the story of hunt buttons
These treasured tokens are bestowed only upon those who go above and beyond in service of their hunt but the rules around them can be complex
A place of tradition in the heart of town
Cordings has helped shape the sartorial landscape of Britain for 185 years, with its classic country tailoring a firm staple of many sporting wardrobes
Don't play it by ear
Hearing loss can have a devastating impact on day-to-day life, making ear protection a non-negotiable piece of field kit
Back to base-ics
Britain's famously unpredictable climate can make staying comfortable in the field a challenge but the right under layers can be a game changer
Stand and deliver
A good stance provides the platform for shotgun marksmanship and is fundamental to consistent success in the field or breaking clays
Heaven is a High Four
A team of guns enjoy a day of the finest sport Devon has to offer, courtesy of the GWCT and a quartet of generous shoot owners