Conaglen House and Estate (Argyll)

“Conaglen Estate extends to over 40,000-acres of breathtaking Scottish West Coast scenery and encapsulates the traditional images of a Highland Estate…provides an ideal location for a family or sporting holiday, corporate entertainment or even a remarkable wedding venue.” And the ideal location to kill deer and ducks too? As if to prove how normalised killing wildlife on a family holiday has become, Conaglen says that the “Estate’s vast acreage gives an opportunity to view the scenery and wildlife of the West Highlands at first hand” and the local area “supports a diversity of wildlife including red deer, golden eagles, osprey and other birds of prey”. But – they say – between October and January “there is an opportunity to organise an evening Duck Flighting for up to 5 guns. (A charge will apply for this activity.)” ‘Duck flighting’ traditionally takes place at a flight pond during two times of the day and clients get the chance to kill whatever species has turned up…Conaglen also “offers the very best of West Coast Red Deer Stalking for up two rifles per day, during applicable seasons”. Perhaps aware that offering mountain-biking and hiking across the same countryside roamed by gun-toting tourists, Conaglen (under ‘Useful Information‘) suggests that “It is advisable that all guests liaise with the stalking staff before planning a route so that both safety and the daily stalking beats are considered.” Scotland – where walkers have to hope no one mistakes you for a deer…