If you want to go clay pigeon shooting near Aberdeen, the closest ground to us is E.J. Churchill at Seal's Cove, on the cliffs at Findon between Cove Bay and Portlethen, about eight minutes by car from the hotel. Complete beginners book a Have-A-Go session with an instructor, no certificate needed; people who already shoot take a lesson, a caddied round, or go round on their own. It is open Wednesday to Sunday, and we are the hotel at the top of the road.
Where it is, and what it is
Seal's Cove is a shooting ground run by E.J. Churchill, the English gunmaker, who also run grounds in Buckinghamshire and North Yorkshire. This one sits at Earnsheugh Bay, on the clifftops just south of Findon, with the North Sea on one side and the stands laid out across the grass. They describe it as shooting all day without the sun in your eyes, which on this coast is true. There is a lodge and a shop on site, and parking.
From our front door it is 2.6 miles and about eight minutes: down Cove Road, across the A92 and follow the signs for Portlethen, Findon and Seal's Cove. The postcode for the satnav is AB12 4SJ. Without a car, a taxi from Aberdeen station takes fifteen to twenty minutes, or stay with us and the taxi is a short one.
If you have never shot before
The Have-A-Go session is the one to book. An instructor takes you through the safety and the basics, hands you a gun that fits, and you spend the session trying to break clays. It runs for groups of up to four, anyone aged nine and over can take part, and you do not need a shotgun certificate because you are supervised the whole time. Guns are hired on the day.
It is the session people book for a birthday, a stag or hen, or a works afternoon, and it is the one we would send a guest to who fancied trying it once. Dress for the weather: this is a clifftop, and it is not a sheltered one.
If you already shoot
A one hour lesson, on your own or shared between two or three, is for ironing out habits or getting ready for the season. A caddied round is for people who want to go round the stands without tuition: the caddie works the traps, carries the kit and picks the stands. For anyone with a valid shotgun certificate there is a Claymate card, which lets you work the traps yourself and shoot at your own pace, paid per clay.
There is also a 20 metre air rifle range for anyone aged nine and up, ladies' mornings, Young Guns sessions for the next generation, and competitions through the year, from friendly ground shoots to registered events. All of it is on their page, with a phone number, 01224 783920, for anything the page does not answer.
What it costs
At the time of writing, October 2026, a Have-A-Go session is £50 a person, gun hire is £20, a caddie is £15 an hour for one person or £20 an hour for two or more, and Claymate clays are 39p each for non-members. Lessons are priced on their site, members get a discount on most of it, and none of these figures are ours, so check their page on the day you book.
Opening hours
Wednesday to Saturday, 9am to 5pm. Sunday, 10am to 5pm. Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Book ahead rather than turning up, especially for a Have-A-Go, because the instructors are booked by the session.
Making a day of it
Seal's Cove is a half day, which leaves the other half. Dunnottar Castle is another twenty minutes down the same road, and Stonehaven harbour is a mile and a half beyond that, so a morning on the stands and an afternoon on the cliffs at Dunnottar is a good day. The walk down to Cove harbour is on our doorstep for anyone who would rather not drive again. Our things to do page will put a plan together for you from what you tick.
Staying with us
We are the nearest hotel to the ground, about eight minutes up the coast at 15 Colsea Road in Cove Bay. The rooms are all en-suite with breakfast cooked to order in the morning, the restaurant looks out over the water, and The Cover, our bar downstairs, is where the day's hits and misses get retold. If you are coming up for a lesson or a competition, book the room at the same time as the session and the whole thing is one short road.
For a room, book online or ring 01224 897211. For the shooting, ring Seal's Cove on 01224 783920 or email sealscove@ejchurchill.com.
- E.J. Churchill at Seal's Cove is a clay shooting ground on the cliffs at Findon, south of Aberdeen, about eight minutes by car from the Cove Bay Hotel.
- Complete beginners book a Have-A-Go session with an instructor; no shotgun certificate is needed for that or for a lesson, and guns can be hired.
- The ground is open Wednesday to Saturday from 9am to 5pm and Sunday from 10am to 5pm, and closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
- Experienced shots with a certificate can shoot on their own with a Claymate card, or take a caddied round around the stands.
- Stay with us the night before or after: rooms upstairs, the restaurant above the water, and the bar for the stories afterwards.
Questions people ask
Can you go clay pigeon shooting as a complete beginner?+
Yes. The Have-A-Go session at Seal's Cove is built for people who have never held a shotgun. An instructor covers the safety and the basics, then gets you breaking clays. It is booked for up to four people at a time, and anyone aged nine and over can take part.
Do you need a shotgun certificate for clay pigeon shooting?+
Not for a lesson or a Have-A-Go session at Seal's Cove, where the instructor supervises and a gun can be hired. You do need a valid certificate to shoot unsupervised with a Claymate card.
How much does clay pigeon shooting cost near Aberdeen?+
At the time of writing, a Have-A-Go session at Seal's Cove is £50 a person, gun hire is £20, a caddie is £15 an hour for one person or £20 for two or more, and Claymate clays are 39p each for non-members. Lessons are priced on their site, and members get a discount. Check their page before you book, because prices change.
Can you clay pigeon shoot on a Sunday?+
Yes. Seal's Cove opens on Sundays from 10am to 5pm. It is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, and open Wednesday to Saturday from 9am to 5pm.
Where is Seal's Cove?+
At Earnsheugh Bay near Findon, between Cove Bay and Portlethen, postcode AB12 4SJ. From the hotel it is about eight minutes and under three miles by car, and about fifteen to twenty minutes by taxi from Aberdeen station.
Can you stay nearby?+
The Cove Bay Hotel is the nearest hotel with rooms, a restaurant and a bar, about eight minutes up the coast. Book a room online or ring 01224 897211.