The Iorsa river runs through the heart of the Dougarie Estate rising in the western foothills of Caisteal Abhail and flows south, passing through Glen Iorsa and Loch Iorsa before heading west towards Dougarie and eventually to the Kilbrannan Sound, emptying at the north end of the Machrie Bay.

The Iorsa is a spate river, offering both salmon and sea trout fishing, and consists of two beats. The Upper Beat runs from and includes Loch Iorsa, where a first class wooden boat is available, to the top end of the Gorge Pool. The Lower Beat starts there and takes in the rest of the river down to and including the Sea Pool. A road running parallel to the river provides easy access to every pool and fishing is by fly only! Fishing is available by the week, with two rods on each beat from the middle of June until the end of October. Prices range from £135 - £165 p.w per rod + VAT.

A wide variety of game shooting is available from driven and walked up pheasant and partridge shooting to duck flighting (wild of course). There are also both snipe and decent numbers of woodcock at the right time of year. Prices on Application.

As part of the Estate’s continuing policy of protecting and nurturing the environment and habitat, it is necessary to cull a certain number of red deer from the herd each year. This is to ensure that a strong bloodline remains, and to prevent overcrowding and starvation. Stalking is available for stags from the end of August until the 20th of October and hind stalking from the 21st of October to the 15th of February. The weather is sometimes a challenge but the views are perhaps unrivalled in Scotland, with stunning scenery everywhere you look, particularly over the Kilbrannan Sound to the Mull of Kintyre. On a clear day you can see Islay, Jura and even Mull to the west and north, and Northern Ireland further south. Prices on Application.

The first action plan for Scotland’s Wild Deer: A National Approach (wDNA) has now been published - http://www.dcs.gov.uk. The plan marks an important step in working towards the collective vision of sustainable deer management as laid out in the wDNA as well as building on past achievements.