Gary Liddle Returns to Challacombe as Head Keeper

There’s something in the air at Challacombe. It’s not just the wind rolling off the moor, but also a sense of something coming together. With the arrival of Gary Liddle as Head Keeper, that feeling is being steered with the kind of grit and experience only a true stalwart of the gamekeeping world can bring.

Roots in the Hills

Gary isn’t new to Exmoor. His journey as keeper began over three decades ago just a stone’s throw from Challacombe, starting as an apprentice at Castle Hill when he was a young lad. In fact, it was during those early days that he first helped establish the partridge shoot at Challacombe. “It’s sort of like coming home,” he says, and you can tell he means it.

After a decade at Castle Hill, Gary headed to Yorkshire for another ten years, then down to Plymouth to develop a shoot from scratch. He’s always been drawn to projects that require hands-on work and a long-term vision. “Everywhere I’ve been has been a 10-year plan,” he explains. “That’s what it takes to do something properly.”

A Life, Not a Job

Ask Gary what gamekeeping means to him, and without a hint of hesitation, he’ll tell you that it’s not just a job. “It’s in your blood, it’s in your bones,” he says. “There’s nothing else like it.” For him, the birds come first – often above all else.

The days start in the pitch dark and end, more often than not, under moonlight after the witching hour has passed. It’s undeniable that Gary infuses his work with a fierce commitment to the land, the birds, and the people.

The People Behind the Day

Shoots, Gary says, are about family – not just his own (though his wife Ellie runs the picking-up team and his young son Ronnie is already keen with working dogs), but the extended family of beaters, pickers-up, loaders, guns, and old friends who return season after season. “There can be 40 or 50 of us working on a day. Everyone plays their part.”

It’s not unusual, he notes, for someone in their 80s or 90s to be out picking up with their dogs, simply because it gives them purpose and joy. That sense of community, shared effort, and belonging runs through everything he does, and this level of passion is a hallmark of the gamekeeping world that Gary is proud to uphold.

Why Gary Chose Challacombe

As for Challacombe itself, it’s a different beast – wild, rugged, and beautiful, as Gary puts it. “This is as wild as it gets,” he says with a smile. “And I love it.”

The wind is part of the attraction too, he explains: “If you want high, fast birds, you’ve got to have the weather.” Gary embraces the challenge, leaning into the rawness of the Exmoor landscape and turning it into an advantage that makes every shoot thrilling and memorable.

He talks with pride about the banks they’ve been planting, the habitat they’re opening up for birds and wildlife alike, and the drives they’re developing to bring even more excitement to the days ahead.

Habitat First

Conservation isn’t a buzzword for Gary, but is embedded in the way he works the land. “When you clear the brambles and let the light in, it just explodes,” he says. Butterflies, bees, flowers – the benefits are immediate, and that kind of regeneration is central to his approach.

Managing such steep, demanding ground means a lot of it has to be done by hand. However, the payoff is a healthier environment, and better conditions for wild and reared game alike.

“I Still Have a Fire in My Belly”

At 50, Gary shows no sign of slowing down. “I’m still very competitive; I’m a bad loser, really,” he admits with a laugh. “I’ve got a lot of fire in my belly.”

For the guns and teams coming to Challacombe in the coming seasons, that fire promises something memorable: a shoot rooted in heritage, powered by family, and stewarded by someone who lives and breathes every inch of the land.

Looking Ahead

With new drives planned, habitat work ongoing, and a tight-knit team beside him – including long-time colleague Rob and the seasoned experience of Jared Grinton – Gary has big ambitions for Challacombe. “You’ve got to make sure that last day in January is just as good as the first day in September,” he says, and he means it.

“We’re all in it together. That’s how you build something great.”

For last minute availability, please contact Simonrood@loyton.com