Glenshooter Posted January 10, 2015 Report Share Posted January 10, 2015 I have visited a fair number of clay grounds in my time and more recently even more, as my lad is taking his clay shooting pretty seriously - to the tune of several 1,000 cartridges a month. Some grounds have great locations, some have nice staff, some great clay layouts/stands and some have a great atmosphere. Few have all these attributes - and I often leave thinking if only they could tighten up on x, y and/or z, that would be a great ground. Today we visited Owl's Lodge, south of Newbury, North of Winchester - near the A34/A303 junction and we had a very enjoyable few hours, despite the wind. The log cabin style lodge was clean, tidy and smart. More restaurant style than canteen. Smiles and quick efficient service from the reception staff. The catering lady was very pleasant and helpful. The food was excellent with the meat pies being superb! We got a little credit card device which allowed us to operate the traps and then pay for the clays at the end, 32p per clay. There are plenty of traps/shooting stations. We shot 150 clays and not once did we have a no-bird. The ground is the tidiest that I can remember, the paths are walkable in shoes and due to the good selection of stands, there was no queuing. One stand, just behind the lodge, had a wireless hand control that operated at least 5 different traps and you could move to a number of different stands to take these clays at different positions, Sportrap style. Most clays were of 'registered target difficulty', probably better for the intermediate shooter than the beginner, although some would be easy enough for beginners, and as this is a shooting school as well, the beginner is obviously well catered for. There are plenty of sporting stands, a trap and also a skeet layout - although we only used the sporting stands. The car park is well located, right beside the lodge so you don't have miles to walk, plenty of car parking spaces and not muddy. Although it's not the easiest place to find on your first visit. The postcode doesn't work with my satnav, it would have taken me to the wrong place, but there are written directions on the website. It's 5 miles to the east of Andover, just off the A303. The atmosphere was very calm, relaxed and friendly with everyone being helpful and welcoming. The place is owned by Richard Faulds (with whom I have no connection, don't think I've ever spoken to him) and he wasn't around today. But his World Class experience of shooting seems to have allowed him to create and run an excellent shooting venue. They aren't open every day, AFAIK, and although I don't shoot registereds, they have a weekday registered shoot most months. 32p a clay for the service provided is excellent value. Pity it's 60 miles from me but I'll be driving there more often compared to the closer grounds that have not quite got the same offering. It's not often I've motivated to comment on a ground, but I thought that Owl's Lodge was exceptional. And again, I have no connection with this ground, other than being a very satisfied customer. Maybe the meat pies have given me a lasting smile on my face Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bisondan Posted January 10, 2015 Report Share Posted January 10, 2015 It's one of the nearest grounds to me, they always have some good targets on down there. They open every Tuesday, Thursday, and every 2nd Saturday of the month. I've booked half days off work April through to October to shot the registered shoots. The catering lady could well have been Tanya Faulds, brunette lady who is fairly easy on the eye. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenshooter Posted January 11, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 11, 2015 The catering lady could well have been Tanya Faulds, brunette lady who is fairly easy on the eye. ha-ha. No, it certainly wasn't her. The lady was the one who made the pies I believe.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wiltsmark Posted January 11, 2015 Report Share Posted January 11, 2015 The lady was the one who made the pies I believe.... Made me laugh that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshwarrior Posted January 11, 2015 Report Share Posted January 11, 2015 No like the ground used to shoot there once a week it was on my way home from work. Always clean and staff are helpful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenshooter Posted January 13, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 13, 2015 If this poxy weather would improve, I'd take another trip down. Weather and work - a plague against me shooting! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.