One of the strongest grouse-shooting seasons for many years comes to an end today, having generated an estimated £38 million for the Scottish economy it is claimed.

Sporting estates had been predicting on the eve of the Glorious Twelfth of August, that this year's late spring followed by the hot summer would meant the prospects were very good.

Grouse suffered in 2012 in the second-wettest summer on record, which had led to fewer birds for the shooting parties. But it was very different this year according to Sporting Lets, run by Scottish property consultancy CKD Galbraith.

It operates both walked up and driven grouse shoots on some of the leading Scottish sporting estates. The firm's head, Robert Rattray, a partner at CKD Galbraith, said experts believed the season has generated an estimated £38m for the Scottish economy, including the supplementary boost to rural communities in terms of tourism spending and seasonal employment.

He said: "This season has been quite a contrast to 2012. A cold and prolonged winter set the scene for a late spring followed by one of the warmest and driest summers for a number of years.

"As a result, some grouse were well-grown, offering fabulous shooting right from the start of the season while some chicks were literally days old and provided a developing stock which enabled good shooting into late October and early November."

He said the Lammermuirs in south-east Scotland had an excellent stock of birds, while Perthshire continued to improve with the best driven shooting in the Crieff to Amulree area.