From 12th August 1773, the authorities in Britain first imposed, under The Game Act of that year, a defined season for red grouse shooting. By protecting the birds during the breeding season, Parliament hoped to help sustain healthy levels of game and prevent over hunting. It was an early recognition that, in order to assure the continuity of the sport, conservation measures had to be taken to preserve the quarry.
The Game Act of 1831 introduced licences and formalised seasonal protection for a range of game birds. Most of those still stand, although the ‘Licence to Kill Game’ was discontinued in the early 2000s. Traditionally hunted by walking the moors with pointing dogs and shooting the birds as they flushed, the practice of driving grouse towards a line of Guns in butts is thought to have started on the Duke of Rutland’s moors at Longshaw, in 1849.
Driven grouse shooting rapidly increased in popularity and spread across the country during the Victorian era. By the time King Edward VII succeeded his mother, it had reached its zenith as the sport of royalty, the aristocracy and the landed establishment.
So important did it become that Parliament adopted the unwritten rule that it must finish its legislative business and close for summer recess in late July, so MPs had time to return to their country estates and be on the moors for the ‘Glorious Twelfth’.
Those early conservation efforts worked. Today, our grouse moors (at least those still managed for shooting) boast healthy numbers of this wonderful bird, which is unique to Britain. So healthy, in fact, that a shootable surplus is produced most years, though the cycles of disease and the challenges of weather ensure that even a good moor might only be shot six or seven years a decade.
The British Association of Shooting & Conservation estimates that forty thousand people, including beaters, loaders, ‘keepers and Guns take part in grouse shooting every season across Britain’s three hundred, or so, estates with managed grouse moors.
Westley Richards has sold guns for driven grouse shooting to royalty, aristocracy and captains of industry ever since the sport began to gain in popularity. A good grouse gun must be well-balanced, relatively light, fast-handling and manoeuvrable. The birds are likely to appear unheralded in front, target acquisition must be immediate and the shooting precise and aggressive, as they are unlikely to be in view for long.
Many experienced shots prefer a slightly shorter than usual stock and 27” barrels, this facilitates fast, fluid mounting and instinctive shooting. As well as producing the world’s finest grouse guns, Westley Richards now equips the entire party with everything from hand-crafted leather dog leads to shooting gloves, from exquisite ladies hats to the most stylish shooting socks on the planet.
For the 2026/7 season catalogue, the team headed for the Stan Hope & Patervan Estate, near Peebles, in the Scottish Borders, to photograph the latest collection of shooting attire and equipment on the moor, with guns, grouse and dogs in attendance.
Photo-shoots have become multi-media operations, with film camera operators and drones joining the traditional stills photographer. All worked hard to capture the aesthetic of a walked-up grouse shoot, with Hungarian vizslas, Worm and Vesper, doing their best to flush grouse to order.
The resultant photographs show our popular Harpton tweeds and the new loden outfits in action. Tweed has long been a staple of the moors and loden brings some continental chic to traditional British shooting attire. Both offer the perfect blend of warmth and breathability imparted by wool alone and adapt to the strains of weather and exercise with timeless ease and grace.
The Glorious Twelfth is upon us. Time to head for the hills, don our tweeds (or loden) and shoulder our guns, as our grandfathers did and theirs before them. On well-managed moors like this, conservation and shooting go hand-in-hand to provide the assurance that our children and grandchildren will have the opportunity to enjoy this Sport of the Gods long after we are gone.
Alongside its bespoke guns, luxury travel bags and high quality safari clothes, the modern Westley Richards continues a 200-year tradition of outfitting sportsmen and travellers for time well spent in the field. Whether preparing for the Glorious Twelfth, checking into a country house hotel or simply demanding the best shooting kit available, Westley Richards provides the finest outdoor classics. Their luxurious country clothing collection includes a range of house shooting tweeds complimented with an exclusive selection of American and European brand partners, including Habsburg, Meindl, Grenfell, Gitman Vintage and Filson.
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When Simon began The Explora, he set a standard of photography and content that was exemplary, and to my eye unmatched on the web. This article is clear testament that his standards endure undimmed.
I recently purchased the loden field coat. It complements the already purchased tweeds (vest and gloves). What a fabulous selection of clothing. Here’s to a wonderful new season!