The Oxfordshire Shooting School

Enstone Airfield

A proper shooting ground on the doorstep

We send more guests here than almost anywhere else on our list of things to do around the cottage, and it always lands well. This is a serious shooting ground rather than a theme-park experience: the layouts are well designed, the traps throw consistently, and the instruction is patient and clear whether you're picking up a shotgun for the first time or working on a particular weakness. It sits out on the old wartime airfield at Enstone, a short drive from Well Cottage, which means the stands are open and exposed enough to give you some genuinely testing wind-driven targets once you've found your feet.

What we like most is how easy it is to organise. Everything you need is provided on the day, so nobody has to think about kit, licences or logistics. You turn up, get kitted out, and an instructor stays with you the whole time. Beginners get a proper safety briefing and a gun fitted to them before a single clay flies, and by the end of a session most people are bursting targets and quietly hooked. It fills a morning beautifully, and you'll come back to the cottage buzzing and probably arguing about who hit the most.

What you can book

The school caters for complete novices and experienced shots alike, so it works whether you're after a fun morning out or a serious lesson. Sessions are booked in advance rather than turning up on spec, which is worth knowing when you're planning your week.

• Have-a-go sessionsThe gentlest way in: a short introductory session with an instructor, a gun, cartridges, safety gear and a round of clays all included, so there's nothing to arrange beforehand.
• One-to-one tuitionLessons for every level, from a first-timer finding their gun mount to a regular shot ironing out a specific fault, with coaching pitched to where you actually are.
• Simulated game daysThe big-day option: a full card of driven and walked-up style stands across the airfield that gives you the feel of a shoot day without needing your own gear or a game licence.
• Groups and celebrationsPackage options for friends and family visiting together, which makes it a popular choice for a stag or hen morning, a milestone birthday or a competitive get-together.

Planning your visit

The ground is open Tuesday to Saturday and closed on Sundays, Mondays and bank holidays, so it pays to slot it into the middle of your stay rather than leaving it for a lazy Sunday. Because sessions run to a booked timetable, we'd always suggest calling or enquiring ahead once you know which morning suits, especially in peak weeks and around holidays when slots fill. There's a lodge with a café and bar on site, so you can wrap the morning up with a coffee or a drink before heading back. We won't quote prices here because they change with the session and the number of clays, so check the current rates directly when you book.

It slots neatly into a wider day out too. You're only a little way from Blenheim Palace and its parkland, and closer still to the ancient Rollright Stones, so a morning on the clays and an afternoon exploring make for a full and satisfying day from the cottage.

“Genuinely one of the best mornings out around here. Even friends who've never held a gun leave grinning.”

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Also nearby

• Tadmarton Heath Golf Club · Golf · Tadmarton
• Blenheim Palace · Palace & park · Woodstock
• Rollright Stones · Ancient site · Long Compton
• Chipping Norton Lido · Outdoor pool · Chipping Norton