The large, beautiful and sparsely populated county of Devon, in Southwest England, is a wonderful destination for bird watching. With all kinds of habitat that suits birds of all shapes and sizes, both resident and migratory, this area is popular for those in search of common fowl and rare birds such as cirl buntings, honey buzzards and pied flycatchers. But birding isn’t for everyone. If you prefer a more action packed, interactive activity, we suggest clay pigeon shooting. Before the birdlovers start protesting, we have to say that the birds in this sport are not real pigeons, or any other type of bird, but spinning clay disks. These clays, launched from a machine called a trap, imitate birds flying through the air, and the sport consists of shooting them out of the sky with a shotgun.

This might sound like a simple activity to you, but the truth is that clay pigeon shooting is a dynamic sport which is becoming more and more popular around the UK among people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities. It’s an entertaining sport, with endless variables that can be modified to keep things interesting, there’s a fantastic community that surrounds it, and, what’s more, it’s a rewarding way to spend time in the great outdoors. And when it comes to great outdoors, you can’t do much better than Devon. So come as you are, a novice or an expert, alone or with a group, resident or visitor, and enjoy a fantastic shooting session that will leave you feeling fresh and fulfilled.

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

• Ottery St Mary: Just a stone’s throw from Exeter, the regional capital, the village of Ottery St Mary is a charming place for an escape to the country - indeed, it was the inspiration for the home of the Weasley family in the Harry Potter books. All are welcome to enjoy traditional clay pigeon shooting here, or you can give it a magical twist with a new development in the sport. Laser clay shooting involves using specially equipped guns and clays that register hits with lasers technology. You don’t have to worry about reloading with more ammunition in this version of the activity, and built-in speakers make sure that you don’t miss out on the satisfying sounds of firing the gun and smashing the clay.

• Ashcombe: If you’re spending your summer on the English Riviera, the stunning coastline around Torbay, you’re not far from Dawlish, and a great shooting ground on the Ashcombe Estate. This ground is well set up for novices, with a focus on safety, quality tuition and enjoyment. There are also all weather installations, so the action can continue come rain or shine.

• Dartmoor: Another site that features in the Harry Potter saga is Dartmoor, the Southwest’s most rugged zone and only national park. While in the world of magic it’s the location of the Quidditch World Cup, in the real world the sport of choice is clay pigeon shooting. Wide open spaces, peace and quiet and a beautiful backdrop of hills and valleys draw many people to the area, and they can take part in taster sessions, lessons, or the exciting activity of simulated game. This is an adaptation of standard shooting to incorporate elements of old fashioned hunting, and is a chance to enjoy the sport off the ranges, in wild areas. The facility is on the southside of the moor, near the town of Newton Abbot.

• Exmoor: The other highland area of the county is Exmoor. Having a go at the farm based shooting range here is a pleasure for individuals and groups, but the grounds also host numerous regional championships, and bimonthly competitive events for amateur shooters. If you’re looking for a place to take up clay pigeon shooting as a hobby, this might be the place for you.

• Ilfracombe: Between Barnstaple and the north coast holiday destination of Ilfracombe there’s a shooting experience with everything provided - including guns, clays, and safety equipment - so it’s no problem if you’ve never shot before. In fact, the team loves welcoming novices here, because they love to see the look on the faces of people who’ve just hit their fist target!

• Tiverton: Our final destination on the list is Tiverton, a great choice for experts as well as beginners. The instructors on this range are highly experienced coaches, so they’re just as good at fine tuning the technique of a veteran shooter as they are at guiding first timers through their first shoot. Add to that the top of the range equipment and beautiful natural surroundings, and you’ve got a winning combination.

Options for organising this activity

- Have a go sessions are often the first clay shooting experience of many for people like you and me. There are ranges around Devon that accommodate individuals or groups into these taster classes, which involve just the right balance of teaching and entertainment. They’re becoming a popular activity for stag and hen parties, birthdays and even corporate events. An hour or 90 minutes are typical for the duration of one of these activities, which might include shooting at 25 to 50 clays.

- If you’ve got the bug and you want to turn clay pigeon shooting into a hobby, you should look at getting some lessons. These can be arranged on a one to one or pairs basis and usually last 1 hour, though longer or shorter sessions can be arranged. Devon, with its spectacular scenery, is a fantastic place to learn the ins and outs of this countryside sport.

Who can get involved in this experience?

We’ve made it clear that it is an option for all kinds of people, regardless of any experience they have or don’t have of the sport, or related shooting and target sports. On top of that, it’s not necessary to have a licence as you’ll be using the guns and cartridges of a registered shooting range. Children can also get involved here in this area. Some ranges have a lower age limit of 11 or 14 years old, but others will let younger kids shoot so long as they have suitable equipment - so if you’ve got the family with you, give a range a call to see if they’ve got child size guns!

Don’t let this opportunity fly away, aim the mouse and click on the reserve button now!