I started the day off with a hearty breakfast (Adam and Theresa in the kitchen work really hard and consistently produce amazing food both for the guests and the staff) and a hot mug of Earl Grey tea – not a bad start for anyone. I was really looking forward to the day as always – the guests were planning on having a session of clay pigeon shooting in the morning followed by some fly fishing along the river in the afternoon. No need for anyone to hold their breath in the hope that my skills with a shotgun have vastly improved in the week since the last shoot. Let’s just say that the majority of the clays would be able to be reloaded with no problem… I did get to shoot with the most beautiful shotgun I’ve ever seen – the most intricately patterned block and beautiful stock you can imagine. And no, a bad workman does not always blame his tools.

The afternoon was far more successful however. At the beginning of the year Andy gave me some basic fly fishing tuition after I had mentioned that this was something I was really keen to try while in Scotland. Being here in summer with rivers full of trout and salmon one would be daft not to give it a bash and so the afternoon saw the guests and me following Andy down to a likely looking spot on the river. Tackle ready and lines in and within minutes the youngest in the group had landed decent looking trout, closely followed during next hour by everyone else except old Smith. I knew when Andy walked over and asked me what I was trying to do that the way I was wielding the fly rod like a sjambok was probably incorrect. Thankfully one can teach an old dog new tricks for after a half hour of brilliant tuition from Andy my chances of catching something were looking infinitely better. After everyone had left (with fish) I continued working my way downstream systematically working the fly through all the pools, rapids and riffles along the way. Eventually I felt the telltale tug on the end of the line and knew my persistence had eventually paid off as I managed to gently land a beautiful (albeit small) trout! My first ever attempt at fly fishing known has me totally hooked! After succeeding to land another one I called it a day and headed back home at about seven thirty in the evening one very happy lad. Oh, the little guys were also returned none the worse for wear to their wonderful and watery home to swim another day… A big thanks to Andy for imparting his knowledge so willingly!