Dougarie
Shoot · Ayrshire · 173 followers
173 followers
Dougarie Estate is located on the Isle of Arran and has various packages from driven days through to rough days. The Estate is made up of varied terrain and has breath-taking views in all directions. As featured on Tom Straker's Game Eater films under Pheasant (Episode 8) and Mallard (Episode 6).
We shoot back to back driven days on Fridays and Saturday from the beginning of November through to the end of January.
We also offer partridge only days in October.
The main driven days tend to be best suited for parties of minimum of 8 guns and the number of birds taken very much depends on the standard of shooting, however our aim is to provide bags between 120 to 200 birds per day. Guns will usually get around the estate in their own 4WD vehicles.
Please contact us as we are always delighted to discuss potential options with those looking to make a booking.
Hospitality
Mid-morning refreshments (soup and something stronger) as well as a delicious lunch is included in all driven day packages.
Shooting Lunches are hosted in our beautiful Dougarie Boathouse and menus are varied with choices ranging from casseroles to curries as main courses with all our meat being sourced from the Estate. There are a number of delicious puddings to choose from to finish with. Partners, friends and children are welcome to join your shoot day.
Birds
The shooting at Dougarie Estate make full use of the natural contours of the Isle of Arran. The terrain includes ancient oak and birch woodlands, open moorlands, cliffs, and ravines, creating a diversity of environments that make the driven shooting both engaging and challenging. A strong favourite is of course our famous Lower Whitefarland drive where guns stand on the beach staring up at the cliffs in front.
Guns should expect spectacular partridges driven off clifftops; challenging snap shooting in ravines through to traditional high-flying pheasants over farmland.
Elevation changes across glens and hillsides offering a mix of gentle slopes and steep ascents over rocky outcrops and heather-covered terrain, adding extensive variation and every drive is different across the two days.
Topography
Arran is known as "Scotland in Miniature" and the estate is true reflection of this extending to around 25,000 acres with a rich blend of lowland and upland pastureland, woodland and open hill/mountains. Our drives utilise a mix of ancient oak banks, broadleaf and coniferous woodland interspersed with steep ravines, cliffs and glens.
Conservation Efforts
Dougarie Estate actively enhances biodiversity and reduces its carbon footprint through habitat connectivity, sustainable farming, peatland restoration, and hedgerow planting. Dougarie Estate has adopting regenerative farming and organic practices to boost biodiversity and soil health. The estate has planted 13km of new multi-species hedgerows, creating corridors for birds, pollinators, and mammals. They restore 325 ha of damaged peatland, employing techniques like drain blocking and gully relandscaping to sequester carbon, improve water quality, and support wildlife.
DOugarie has been recognised by Wildlife Estates Scotland with a sliver accreditation reflecting their commitment to sustainable and conservation-focused land management.
About the hosts
The Gibbs family have been running Dougarie for 50 years and want all our guests to enjoy the Estate as much as we do. You will be looked after by Jamie or Jules Gibbs, along with Head keeper Davie Anderson and the remainder of the Estate staff to ensure that you have a memorable days shooting.
Travel information
Dougarie Estate is easily accessible from Glasgow airport / main rail links from Glasgow Central station or by car.
There are regular ferry routes from: Troon to Brodick (Arran) Ardrossan to Brodick (Arran) Tarbert to Lochranza (Arran) Claonaig to Lochranza (Arran)
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Reviews
C.H.
The sport at Dougarie is like nothing else I have had the privilege to experience; challenging for those that want to extend themselves, varied for those drawn to species adventures, and all at once hugely exciting as quarry comes at you from all sides. Extremely warm and generous hospitality at The Boathouse completes a sensational day, all with terrific camaraderie and a sense of being part of the local community.
Visit: multiple visits
W. G.
Some of the most exceptional shooting in the UK - this shoot should be in everyone’s top 3 wish list.
L. D. J.
Had an amazing 2 day shoot, everything prepared as expected, great cook, Jules and Jamie are amazing hosts and spectacular drive locations. Great team overall in a beautiful location.
Visit: November 5th 2026
J. R.
Spectacular shooting weekend, this is the real deal. Sumptuous lodge, attentive staff, excellent chef utilising local game, and every detail attended to. Shooting was varied, challenging and highly enjoyable. They have everything from partridge amongst heather clad hills to sky high pheasant off coastal cliffs, with evening sport across multiple wildfowl location and species - something for everyone. Immaculately hosted with nothing too much trouble and set amongst the glorious Arran landscape, it’s a lifetime experience and to be highly recommended.
Visit: December 12th 2025
D. C.
This was, without question, one of the finest shooting weekends I have ever experienced. The estate offers everything you could possibly want from a weekend like this. The landscape alone is breathtaking—expertly woven into an array of beautifully varied drives. One moment you’re standing on the beach with the sea at your feet, the next you’re out on open ground beneath the spectacular house, then tucked beneath dramatic cliffs, and finally up on the hill with views that stop you in your tracks. The targets were just as diverse, providing perfectly pitched challenges throughout. It truly has it all. The entire team—from beaters to picker-ups to chefs—were exceptional. Led by the crack quartet of Jules, Davie, Wee David and David, the operation ran with warmth, precision and professionalism. They made the experience not just memorable, but genuinely special. There was a real sense of adventure throughout the weekend, the kind that stays with you long after you’ve left. I genuinely cannot wait to return. From here on out, I don’t think I’ll be recommending anywhere else.
Visit: December 5th 2025
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