Westmorland is a stunning part of the UK. It truly is a very wild place. Deep ghyll's, mountain pools and heather moorland. The mountains are very rocky and rugged. Boulders and rocks cover the landscape, left from glacial times. It's landscape is cut by rivers and streams, that lie deep down in ghyll's that they once cut. All of this gives the landscape a very prehistoric feel.
There is the constant noise of hundreds of migrant wild greylag geese. The honking on mass, creates the most amazing atmosphere and sound.
We had a very informal rough shooting day in Westmorlland. At the end of the day we had achieved 6 different species of game. Red Grouse, Greylag Goose, Woodcock, Wild Mallard, Pheasant and Partridge. It really was the most memorable days shooting and hunting in the UK.
The greylag geese flighted all day, by the hundreds. Huge groups feed in the fields. The wild ducks soard from the mountain lakes, as did the pheasants across the deep rocky ghyll's.
Occasionally a covey of partridge would suddenly appear from the crops and speed away from us. The snipe and woodcock sprang up suddenly, each time surprising us, adding to the excitement of the day.
Whilst on the moors, the noise of the red grouse calling, once again gets your heart racing.
Wigeon and Teal were also using the glacial pools. With plenty of wood pigeon flying around, there is always the good chance of a very mixed bag of wild game birds for the table.
It really was one of the most memorable days shooting that I have experienced. The wild, rugged and remote landscape truly added to the experience.
And we have a goose ready for our Christmas lunch.
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