Beagling about

Minimal kit and maximum fresh air and entertainment are the order of the day when you follow beagles – on foot

- MARY SKIPWITH

In his book, Beagling and Beagles, written in 1931, J Otho Paget proposes a solution for encouraging those uninitiated in the fieldsport: “Let them go out two or three days with beagles and they will soon find the hunting fever has only been hidden by the absence of opportunity.” Nearly a century on, Otho Paget’s advice is just as pertinent. Lockdown and the time it has afforded for reflection means that many have realised how unfulfilling their way of life has been. This has resulted in a sea change towards uncomplicated, outdoor-based pastimes. And while social restrictions persist, there are few better opportunities to embrace this newfound desire for individual freedom and the countryside than to go beagling.

Planning requirements are refreshingly minimal. There’s no forgetting to book a time slot for the sports hall or realising your kit bag is still in the house as you turn up for a lesson. You don’t even have to worry about cleaning your tack, buying more cartridges or replacing lost flies, as you would with other fieldsports. To go beagling, you can simply decide on the morning that you have the inclination to follow hounds and off you go (although during this season it may be best to double check with the relevant pack on safety measures first in case you are required to book in). An added bonus is that, as meet times tend to be 12pm or later, you have a few extra hours to lie-in, shake off a hangover and fuel yourself with a fry-up to last the day.