LAYERING FOR COLD AND WET DAYS

Every good shot now favours the layer system, which provides warmth and dryness without bulk, so minimising restriction of movement and inconsistent gun mount. In cold weather, a thermal vest, green shirt, tie, thin merino sweater and coat works well.

Choice of coat is important. They should be light, waterproof, breathable and the right colour. Dark olive sells well and is fine for covert days but every coat darkens with rain and grouse will spot a dark shape protruding from the butt. Better to pick a lighter green.

My friends favour those from Barbour, Musto, Schoffel, Härkila, Seeland and John Field.

My old faithfuls are the Musto Macnab, the faux tweed pattern of which blends perfectly with moorland colours, and the Barbour Swainby. This coat is cut according to the old Norfolk shooting jacket principle, where the arms fit snugly under the armpit. As a result, when you raise the gun you lift only your coat arm and not the entire jacket.

No one I know shoots grouse in those heavy, lined, tweed coats, although they are still seen on guns shooting covert days. (The problem is that they ruck up at the point where you mount the gun and collect rain.)