The festive season is rapidly approaching here at Mornacott and we are well underway with preparations. We are very pleased that our own Barn Cottage is playing host to visitors from other parts of the country over the holidays and we shall endeavour to make their Mornacott Christmas one to remember. From all the team at Mornacott we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year. 

The shooting season is now well under way and it’s been very pleasing to welcome back so many of our regulars as well as meeting new teams who have taken up the few extra days that we’ve offered this year. Despite some pretty challenging weather, sunny skies and still days, everyone seems to have enjoyed themselves. A new record for shots was established last week on the Aller Hedges drive – 437. We’ll spare the team their blushes and not say anything about ratios! 

The start of the shooting season at Mornacott is fast approaching and with only a few weeks left until the first shoot, it’s all hands to the pumps to make sure everything’s ready. All the drives have to be pegged out, all the gun rides have to be cut back and the grass topped. Most importantly all of the birds have to be in top condition and settled in the drives waiting for their chance to take to the air and beat the guns. 

The Shooting Gazette reviews the Mornacott Shoot
“If you’re looking for challenge and variety it’s all that and more” so said Robert Cuthbert writing about the Mornacott Shoot in this month’s issue of the Shooting Gazette.

We were delighted by Robert’s kind comments in the five-page article that he wrote for the Gazette following his visit here last year.

His coverage of one of our shoot days was admirably supported by some excellent photography from Chris Warren Photography making the whole shoot team feel very proud of their achievements.

It also acts as a timely reminder of what our guests will be expecting in the forthcoming season for which preparations are progressing apace. 

We are now fully in the swing of holiday season here at Mornacott, our newly finished ‘Barn Cottage’ has been positively received on the holiday let market and we are booked all summer. The feedback has been good, with guests particularly commenting on the stunning views that the cottage enjoys and the peace and tranquillity of the surroundings. The team have risen admirably to the challenge on changeover days and in providing a warm and homely welcome. Now all we need is the co-operation of the English weather! 

A week of good weather was forecast so we jumped at the chance to make the first of the year’s hay. As well as hay making two hundred acres of grass had been cut for silage, so have our work cut out for us over the next week, turning the hay, bailing and wrapping the silage. A dark storm cloud on the horizon threatened the end of the dry weather and all hands on deck were needed to bale it and load it up on the trailer to get it in before the rain finally arrived later that evening.