The people of Yorkshire have a reputation for being friendly but stubborn. There’s some truth to this stereotype, but at root this stubbornness is a result of the admirable qualities of honesty and openness. This straightforward nature also makes the inhabitants of this largely rural and wild county great at clay pigeon shooting. If you’ve been tempted to try your hand at this increasingly popular outdoor pursuit, you can’t do much better than doing it under the watchful eye of a yorkshireman or woman.

There’s plenty more to bring you to North Yorkshire besides the people who live there. It’s the largest county in England but one of the most sparsely populated. Part of this is down to the fact that much of the land is rough and wild, and falls within the national parks of the Yorkshire Dales and the North York Moors. This open country - God’s Own Country as the locals call it - is perfect for the countryside sport of clay pigeon shooting. Whether you’re a novice or a veteran shooter, you’ll find a friendly welcome and an ideal shooting experience here.

Where are the best places to do clay pigeon shooting in North Yorkshire?

• York: Outside this old Viking city, the village of Rufforth has a great range. It’s set in an open landscape, providing great visibility, and boasts high quality equipment and targets. If you want an introduction to this sport without travelling too far from civilisation, this is the place for you.

• Harrogate: The biggest town in this regeion is known as a destination for enjoying the finer things in life, from the healing spa waters to two concert orchestras. And there’s fine activity to be found as well up in the Yorkshire Dales above the town and in nearby Knaresborough - whose ground has been a repeat winner of the title of the Best Shooting Ground in the North East.

• Thirsk: The town of Thirsk is a great destination for newcomers to this sport. Whether you’re on your own or with a group you can find clay shooting sessions tailored to first timers. With a good atmosphere and great tuition, you’ll be smashing clays in no time! And that’s even true in bad weather, because there are covered stands to keep the rain off.

• Thimbleby: Another great spot is the range near to previous. It’s on the edge of the North York Moors, so you’ll have to fight to get your eyes off the spectacular views in order to focus on the target. You can also try simulated game shooting here where the clays are fired in a way that imitates the flight of birds.

• Pickering: Further into the national park, and more specialised for simulated game shoots, visiting this range is a true wilderness adventure. You won’t be shooting on a carefully manicured lawn, but on the rough ground of the moors, where clays fly into the air from hidden machines, and you have to be quick in order to hit your mark.

• Kirklington: The Camp Hill Estate near Kirklington is an outdoor activity centre and glamping site in a picturesque setting. There are no motorways or power cables to remind you of the modern world, so it’s a fantastic place to take your mind off your responsibilities and train your aim at some flying clay pigeons.

• Swinton Estate: This activity is taken seriously here, in the grounds of a stately home in the foothills of the Yorkshire Dales. Everything, from the shooting layouts to the landscaping, has been carefully thought out to make this a top tier range. But that doesn’t mean it’s reserved for top tier shooters, novices and improving enthusiasts are just as welcome.

• Skipton: Up in the heart of the Dales above Skipton you can enjoy this traditional sport in all disciplines - skeet, down the line, sporting, etc. alongside simulated game activities. The site is beautiful and even those who aren’t shooting will have a wonderful time here in the great outdoors.

What are the options for organising this experience?

- Clay pigeon shooting differs from most target sports in a number of ways. First of all, the target - known as a clay - is fired into the air by a machine - the trap - and so you have to aim at a moving point. This makes it quite challenging and, although the trap can be adjusted to make the clay easier to hit, that means that having a taster or have-a-go session with an instructor is the best way to get started. You can arrive at one of North Yorkshire’s shooting ranges with no experience and no specialist equipment and be taken through the steps of shooting with patience and care in the space of 45 or 90 minutes. We predict that you’ll hit more clays than you think in that time.

- Another unique feature of this activity is that, because the target traces an arc through the sky, various people can take a shot at each clay. This makes it a great activity to try out with your friends. Ranges here welcome corporate groups, stag and hen parties and other groups to enjoy this sport together. The friendly competition keeps everyone entertained during the session, which usually lasts around 2 hours, and should bring out the best in everyone.

- Once you’ve had a taste of this sport, you’ll want to really get into it, and the best way to do that is by taking some lessons. Some of the best instructors in the country are found in this county, and you can schedule the classes in a way that suits you, from 1 hour sessions to 2 hours or more.

Requirements to do this activity

The first thing to say is that you don’t need any kind of licence to take part in a session, because you’ll use a gun that belongs to the range, and be supervised for the duration. But the type of guns that are available on each range does determine the age at which you can start shooting. Full size shotguns are too big and heavy for youngsters to use, they need something with a smaller bore. At some ranges, this means that the kids will have to wait until they reach their teens to have a go, but at others they can be baptised into this sport at just 8 or 9 years old.

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