Great British Six Species Challenge - 7 days, 6 nights, 5 hunting days
Description
Hunt all six species of British deer in a single week - a feat most hunters spend a lifetime pursuing. You'll begin at Gowthorpe Manor in Norfolk, a 16th-century Elizabethan manor house at the heart of the hunting grounds. The two estates hold healthy populations of fallow, roe, muntjac, and Chinese Water Deer across 3,000 acres of mixed farmland, dense woodland, hedgerows, and field margins - each requiring a different approach. Once the lowland species are in the bag, we fly by light aircraft to the Scottish Highlands to tackle red and sika stags on 7,000 acres of open hill and forestry. This is stag stalking at its finest - glassing from a ridge, reading the wind, belly crawling through heather, and earning every shot the hard way. The stalking ground sits two hours north of Inverness in Sutherland - one of the last true wilderness areas in Britain. Open moorland, forestry, and dramatic wide-open hill. You'll hunt with an experienced stalker who knows every inch of it. You'll stay at Garvault House - mainland Britain's most remote hotel, featured on Channel 4's World's Most Secret Hotels. Set deep in the Sutherland wilderness with no other building in sight for 20 miles, evenings are spent around the peat fire in the library or swapping stories from the day over a three-course dinner of locally sourced game and wild trout. All meals and drinks are included, house wines, beers, and spirits, and we're happy to arrange specific bottles on request. The trip is suitable for up to two hunters or observers. While hunters are on the hill, observers can enjoy guided day tours of the Scottish Highlands - castles, whisky distilleries, wild beaches, and some of the most dramatic coastal scenery in Britain.
What to Expect
Example Itinerary Sunday - Arrival Day
- Pick up from your London arrival airport by a member of the Griffin Sporting team
- Transfer to Gowthorpe Manor and lunch
- Explore the surrounding ground, zero your rifle, and discuss the plan for the coming days with your stalker
- Three-course dinner at Gowthorpe
Monday & Tuesday - Lowland Buck Hunting
- Early morning hunt - the first outings will typically target roe and muntjac at dawn, when they're most active on the woodland edges
- Traditional English breakfast at Gowthorpe Manor -Observers are collected from the manor by a local tour guide for the day's excursion
- Midday hunting
- Return to the lodge in the evening - relax by the fire with a whisky or glass of wine
- Evening hunt for fallow and Chinese water deer
- Three-course dinner, swap stories from the day over dinner
Wednesday - Hunting & Travel to Scotland
- Early morning hunt for any remaining lowland species
- Quick breakfast and pack up kit from Gowthorpe Manor
- Transfer to local airfield for a light aircraft flight north to the Scottish Highlands - the landscape changes from flat Norfolk farmland to Highland moorland in under two hours
- Touch down and transfer to Garvault House
- Unpack, settle in, and explore the surroundings
Thursday & Friday - Scottish Stag Hunting for both Sika and Red Stag
- Traditional Scottish breakfast at the lodge
- Pick up a packed lunch and head out to Rosal Forest with your guide for the day
- Observers are collected from the lodge by a local tour guide for the day's excursion
- Return to the lodge in the evening - relax by the fire with a whisky or glass of wine
- Three-course dinner, swap stories from the day over dinner
Saturday
- Final morning on the hill if needed - a chance to complete the challenge or simply enjoy one last stalk
- Traditional Scottish breakfast
- Pack up and depart the lodge for Inverness Airport
- If time allows, a stop at a local attraction en route
- Drop off at Inverness Airport
Included
- Six animals - one of each species
- All transport, including airport transfers and internal UK flights
- Accommodation (6 nights)
- Food & drink, including house alcohol
- Rifle hire and ammo
Not Included
- International flights (Norfolk to Sutherland internal flight is included)
- Trophy preparation & export (see more information below)
- Gratuities for your stalker and lodge staff are customary but at your discretion
Trophy Exports We handle the hard part. After your hunt, we'll prepare your trophy and hand-deliver it to our export partner, who has decades of experience shipping trophies to the US. They manage all the paperwork, USDA documentation, and customs clearance - your trophy arrives at your door, typically within 60 days of your hunt.
All UK deer species are non-CITES species, so no special permits are required on the US import side. You'll pay the export company directly for shipping and handling. We'll connect you with them before your trip so you know exactly what to expect.
Gear & Equipment
Clothing & Footwear
- Waterproof, breathable jacket (in muted / natural colours)
- Waterproof over-trousers
- Sturdy, waterproof hiking boots
- Warm mid-layers (fleece or wool)
- Base layers
- Stalking trousers (quiet fabric, neutral colours)
- Cap
- Midge net
- Comfortable clothes for the lodge and dinners
Equipment for the Field
- Binoculars (8x or 10x recommended)
- Hearing protection
- Small daypack
- Water bottle or flask
Weapon Details
We supply fishing equipment, rifle and ammo
- Sako S20
- .270 (130 grain softnose)
Pricing Details
$25,000 per person - let us know about observers
Terms & Conditions
Payment information
- Hunt Packages are non-refundable
- Packages booked within 30 days of the hunt must be paid fully at the time of booking
- No credit cards. Cash and checks only
Cancellation policy
- No rain checks unless schedule permits
- Cancelled hunts are not refunded, but a replacement may be found
Gratuities
- Customary, but not required
- Guides: 15-20% of the hunt price
- Cook: $50 per guest
Camp/Accommodations
Lowland Leg: Gowthorpe Manor You'll stay at Gowthorpe Manor, a Grade II listed Elizabethan manor house dating from the 1520s, set in the heart of the estate. This is a proper English country house - oak beams, period furniture, a drawing room with a fireplace, and the kind of character that only five centuries of history can produce. The hallways are lined with sporting prints and trophies, and it feels exactly like the England you came here to experience. Bedrooms are individually furnished with comfortable beds, and the manor has a freestanding roll-top bath for those who want to soak after a day in the field. Meals are taken in the dining room - expect a full English breakfast each morning, a relaxed lunch, and a locally sourced three-course dinner in the evening. House drinks are included throughout your stay.
Highland Leg: Garuvault House Guests stay at Garvault House - mainland Britain's most remote hotel, featured on Channel 4's World's Most Secret Hotels. Set deep in the Sutherland wilderness with no other buildings in sight for 20 miles, it's the kind of place most people will never find.
The house is run by a husband-and-wife team and feels more like a private home than a hotel. Evenings are spent around the peat fire in the library, or in the drawing room with a dram - there's a piano, board games, chess, and shelves of books if the conversation runs dry (it won't). Dinner is served communally at one long table each night, with locally sourced game, wild trout, and home-cooked food that punches well above its weight.
Bedrooms are individually furnished with ensuite bathrooms and views over the lochs and hills of the Flow Country. The house is off-grid - no cell signal, no distractions, just big skies and brilliant stars. Wi-Fi is available for those who need to check in back home.
Expect a cooked breakfast each morning, a packed lunch for the hill, and a three-course dinner in the evening. House wines, beers, and spirits are included, and we're happy to arrange specific bottles on request.
Physical Requirements
Fit and able for hill stalking - high seat access is available for those less abled
Permit & Tag Application Process
None - Griffin Sporting arnges this