The Field - August 2023

In this issue

Going through a purple patch
A glorious day of grouse over dogs at Egton.
By Sir Johnny Scott

Protecting our grouse moors
Rory Knight Bruce reports from the fourth Moorland Summit.

Shipshape and raring to go
Octavia Pollock on how to prepare for the hunting Season..

The future of firearms licensing

As a consultation on Britain's gun laws gets under way, it is imperative that the shooting public is not made to pay for failures caused by poor policing. Ensure your voice is heard, urges Graham Downing

4 mins

Feargal Sharkey

The ex-punk rocker is now channelling his anger into saving Britain's beleaguered chalkstreams and holding those responsible for their decline firmly to account

4 mins

Egton estate North Yorkshire

An early-season walked-up day brings a party of old friends to the moor, where elegant dogwork and plentiful grouse make for unforgettable sport

7 mins

Why moorland is a matter for us all

At the fourth Moorland Summit, conservationists of all stripes gathered to seek common ground in order to protect our moors and the species that rely on them

7 mins

A dance before dawn

The swaggering spectacle of the blackcock lek is an astonishing piece of natural theatre that few are fortunate enough to witness

7 mins

Heritage meets innovation

In a world exclusive, The Field is introduced to the Holland & Holland Noble, the new London-made shotgun from this most eminent gunmaker

6 mins

Repairing, preparing and raring to go

Over the summer, hunts are a hive of activity: from horses and hounds to boots and buttons, everything must be shipshape for the Season ahead

7 mins

Going with the flow in a wet and wild landscape

The iconic lochs of Scotland's Flow Country offer trout fishermen one of the finest experiences in the sport

7 mins

A thrilling test of sporting skill

As The Field's Macnab Challenge returns for 2023, intrepid sportsmen will set out to achieve this most famous feat guided by seasoned mentors of the game

4 mins

The workhorse of the Highlands

For centuries, the garron pony has been a steadfast companion to those who spend their time on the hill - a special partnership that continues to this day

7 mins

A tricky topic to brooch

From Royal ribands to tartan sashes, these noble accessories are worn with pride by those entitled to them. But what do they really signify?

7 mins

Tenacious teckel

Dachshunds may be small and slightly comical but don't be fooled: these fierce little dogs have almost endless sporting potential

6 mins

A Highland odysse

In August 1773, Dr Samuel Johnson and James Boswell embarked on their 83-day, 800-mile journey through the Scottish Highlands

6 mins

The fol of follie

By turns impressive and delightfully eccentric, these quirky structures became a way for the aristocracy to express their individuality away from the practical constraints of the big house

6 mins

Steeped in tradition

The British are famous for their love of a cuppa but the history of tea in this country has distinctly courtly origins

5 mins

An unusual early percussion gun

Built by Samuel Nock, gunmaker-in-ordinary to four British monarchs, this elegant piece features some intriguing designs

2 mins

Art in the field

Tim Scott Bolton talks to Janet Menzies about his work for HM The King and the complexity of capturing true wilderness on canvas

3 mins

The Exmoor Forest Inn and Duredon Farm

Nestled in the heart of Exmoor, these superb establishments are a sportsman's paradise, says Rory Knight Bruce

3 mins

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The Field Magazine Description:

The Field is published monthly and dedicated to those brave souls who shoot, fish and hunt way beyond the call of duty. Since 1853, its staff has selflessly brought its readers the cream of rural life, be it pheasant shooting, dry-fly fishing or the distinct merits of Cheval Blanc. If you love field sports, errant terriers and very foxy friends at hunt balls, The Field is for you.