Review: Clay Pigeon Shooting, Cotswolds

Finding an activity that suits teenage boys and keeps the whole family engaged is no easy feat, but I think we’ve struck gold.

Tucked away in the heart of the stunning Cotswolds countryside, you’ll find Rural Pursuits  –  though “find” might be a stretch. Your best bet is to drive to the charming village of Poole Keynes, where you’ll be met by Tom, the owner, who’ll kindly escort you in your car across open fields to the shooting grounds.

We were greeted by James, our instructor for the day, who looked every bit the country gentleman, clad in tweed, tie, and shooting jacket. Parked nearby was his gleaming vintage Rolls-Royce, which he nonchalantly told us he takes to the supermarket, in spite of its vast size. From the moment we met him, James set the perfect tone: relaxed, welcoming, and wonderfully entertaining.

After a thorough (and reassuring!) safety briefing, we were ready to go. James did all of the loading himself, which gave us full confidence and let us focus on learning the ropes.

Wearing our ear protection, we took turns calling “pull!” as the clays were launched into the sky. My husband hit several early on, my boys picked it up quickly, and after a bit of coaching, I was thrilled to hit one myself.  We got to keep the spent cartridges from each successful shot, our own little trophies to take home.

We later moved to a second spot beside a peaceful pond, where we tackled clays launched from different angles, including a rapid-fire double shot that tested our skills and brought plenty of laughs. With James guiding us every step of the way, we were soon feeling like pros. The last session was a competitive match in pairs.

It was brilliant fun, exciting, and incredibly satisfying.

Would we recommend it? Absolutely. It’s ideal for all skill levels, from total beginners to those with experience. Our teenage sons were totally engaged, and we all walked away with big smiles and a new skill under our belts.

• Lessons from £45 per hour.