Where The Wild Things Are

With their erratic flight and nocturnal nature, woodcock are a prized quarry. Rebecca Green joins Blaser Sporting for two days of exciting sport on the Ardnamurchan peninsula

- Rebecca Green

The shout of “woodcock forrard!” on a shoot day is guaranteed to set pulses racing and trigger fingers itching; the glimpse of one jinking through the trees, even more so. Whether a surprise sight on a driven shoot or as the intended quarry on a dedicated woodcock day, there is no question that these mystical birds are much sought after and prized by sportsmen and women all over the world.

The chance, then, to combine this celebrated species with an equally majestic landscape – the Ardnamurchan peninsula in the Scottish Highlands – was too good an opportunity to miss. And so it was, in November last year, that I made the 10-hour drive to the west coast of Scotland, cocker spaniel Monty in tow, to join a small team of Guns for two days of walked-up woodcock shooting. As if that wasn’t exciting enough, we were guests of Blaser and would be using the new Blaser F16.

To say the Ardnamurchan peninsula is remote, wild and beautiful is an understatement. Having taken the Corran Ferry crossing from Onich, near Fort William, to Ardgour on the peninsula, the only access route to the other side is a single-track road which winds its way along every nook and cranny of the peninsula – making for stunning vistas but not speedy travel. Not that I was complaining; every twist and turn brought with it another dramatic view of coastline, moorland, snow-capped mountains and forest… and as the sun set on this crisp, clear November day, it really was breathtaking. In fact, these stunning views were a permanent feature of the trip, so much so that it was often remarked how visitors to the area can suffer from ‘view fatigue’!

Cold but promising start