Knight Frank’s Thomas van Straubenzee says there’s a growing trend for downscaling bag expectations

The stick goes up in the air. A point! The English setter, Blair, is completely still, nose pointing (or setting) at the scent - his tail back straight as an arrow. We pick up our feet and move swiftly towards the gamekeeper, Stewart.

It’s a hot August day and we are tired from the long walk. One of the setters, Pete, had pointed only moments earlier at a skylark. This is where the expression ‘larking about’ originates. We keep our fingers crossed that this is grouse - hopefully a good covey - or maybe a snipe.