2019 Editor's Choice Fishing Hotels
Editor’s Choice Fishing Hotels
Gliffaes - 'Explore Wales' Summer Special Offer
Crickhowell
The host family have been catering to fishing folk since 1948 at this Italianate Victorian former vicar’s house in a beautiful situation overlooking the River Usk. Guests can fish for trout and salmon on the Wye and Usk. There are fly-fishing courses and ghillies. Land a trout and they will cook it for your breakfast.
The Inn at Whitewell
Clitheroe
This fun and characterful old inn stands on the banks of the River Hodder in the Forest of Bowland. Fishing is available to residents on some seven miles of river, with 14 pools. Readers this year praise the professionalism of the ghillie – even though the wily trout and salmon got away.
Currarevagh House
Oughterard
Readers praise the old-fashioned charms of this Victorian mansion in parkland. You can fish from a drifting boat on Lough Corrib, for wild brown trout, pike, perch and salmon. No permit or licence required and no bag limits. In early summer buy mayflies from the local children, who are given a week off school to catch them.
Ballyvolane House
Fermoy
It is not revealed if the Prince of Wales indulged his love of fly fishing when he stayed at this Georgian country house with the Duchess of Cornwall in July 2018. Had he done so, he would have been in his element, with more than ten miles of salmon and trout fishing on the Blackwater, one of Europe’s most important salmon rivers.
Culdearn House
Grantown-on-Spey
Flexible dinner and breakfast arrangements, a freezer and drying facilities are all available to fishing fans at this Victorian villa. The River Spey teems with salmon. Tuition, ghillies, permits and equipment hire can be arranged, and you can take your pick of malt whiskies to warm you at the end of the day.
Hotel Endsleigh
Tavistock
The Tamar runs through the Arcadian parkland surrounding this regency fishing lodge turned relaxed, stylish country house hotel. As a member of Endsleigh Fishing Club, the hotel offers access to excellent salmon fishing on eight miles of river bank, with any equipment you may need, and a ghillie to show you your beat.
Dolffanog Fawr
Tywyn
Tal-y-llyn lake, stocked with brown trout to supplement wild fish, is almost on the back doorstep of this Snowdonia farmhouse B&B. Alternatively, you can take a short drive to fish for grayling on the Dee, or perhaps go for a spot of fly-fishing off the coast, with your sights on bass, mullet and mackerel.
Riverwood
Pitlochry
This immaculate B&B in a contemporary house is far removed from the traditional fishing lodge or hunting box. But breakfasts are hearty, the River Tay runs through the four-acre woodland gardens, and brown-trout fishing is free to guests.
The Arundell Arms
Lifton
Roaring fires, comfy sofas and rooms filled with antiques set the tone at this country sports hotel on the Tamar. It is geared to fishing, with 20 miles of riverbank, a full-time instructor, tackle hire – and a drying room for when you arrive back soaked with a catch of brown or sea trout, salmon or grayling.
Langass Lodge
Isle of North Uist
In the luminous, watery landscape of North Uist, guests at this former shooting lodge find an exciting variety of fishing challenges, in lochs, lochans and tidal pools. New legislation mandates a catch-and-release policy for salmon caught in coastal waters, and there are limits on sea trout, but no limit on brown trout – and there’s local lobster for dinner!
2018 Editor's Choice Fishing Hotels
Editor’s Choice Fishing Hotels
Gliffaes - 'Explore Wales' Summer Special Offer
Crickhowell
‘Wonderfully located’ above the River Usk, this Victorian former vicar’s house has a ‘timeless quality’.
Forss House - Free Bottle of Wine Special Offer
Thurso
Near the mainland’s northern tip, Ian and Sabine Richards’s Georgian mansion is surrounded by woodland and waterfall on the Forss river, a fishing hotspot.
Shieldaig Lodge - Food Lover's Package
Gairloch
‘Down a long single-track road, flanked by stone eagles at the gate,’ this Victorian hunting lodge stands in ‘a glorious setting’ by Loch Gairloch, ‘with enchanting views of cavorting seals’.
The Inn at Whitewell
Clitheroe
‘A lovely place to stay,’ writes a reader in 2018, of this popular old inn. On the banks of the River Hodder, it has views to the Forest of Bowland.
Enniscoe House
Ballina
‘As the owners claim, this is neither B&B nor hotel, but a family home that welcomes guests,’ writes a Guide insider, of this ‘classic Georgian manor house, deep in the countryside’ beneath Mount Nephin.
Ballyvolane House
Fermoy
A mildly bohemian air filters through the Green family’s wisteria-hung Georgian country house hotel, bordered by bluebell woods.
The Arundell Arms
Lifton
‘No wonder Adam has such a loyal clientele,’ wrote a regular Guide reader after this year’s visit to the country sports hotel, a mere fly cast from Dartmoor.
Ballathie House
Stanley
In 1922 a young Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon (later Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, as we now think of her) joined a house party at this turreted Victorian country house on the River Tay.
Langass Lodge
Isle of North Uist
Amid the ‘drowned landscape’ of North Uist, with its tidal strands, lochans and peat bogs, this former shooting lodge overlooking Loch Langass is run as a hotel by Amanda and Niall Leveson Gower.
The House at Temple Sowerby
Penrith
In a Knights Templar village with a backdrop of imposing Cross Fell mountain, a Georgian mansion and converted coach house are home to a personable small hotel.
2017 Editor's Choice Fishing Hotels
Editor’s Choice Fishing Hotels
Gliffaes - 'Explore Wales' Summer Special Offer
Crickhowell
‘Wonderfully located’ above the River Usk, this Victorian former vicar’s house has a ‘timeless quality’.
Knockinaam Lodge - Gourmet Weekend Special Offer
Portpatrick
In the lea of the cliffs, overlooking a private beach on the rugged Galloway coast, Sian and David Ibbotson’s Victorian hunting lodge offers a great sense of escape.
Forss House - Free Bottle of Wine Special Offer
Thurso
Near the mainland’s northern tip, Ian and Sabine Richards’s Georgian mansion is surrounded by woodland and waterfall on the Forss river, a fishing hotspot.
The Inn at Whitewell
Clitheroe
‘A lovely place to stay,’ writes a reader in 2018, of this popular old inn. On the banks of the River Hodder, it has views to the Forest of Bowland.
The Lake
Llangammarch Wells
Cocooned in ‘lovely, peaceful grounds in glorious countryside’, Jean-Pierre Mifsud’s ‘welcoming’ Victorian country house hotel continues to offer an enjoyable bucolic break.
Enniscoe House
Ballina
‘As the owners claim, this is neither B&B nor hotel, but a family home that welcomes guests,’ writes a Guide insider, of this ‘classic Georgian manor house, deep in the countryside’ beneath Mount Nephin.
Currarevagh House
Oughterard
Reputedly Ireland’s longest running hotel under one family’s ownership: its ‘true country house’ atmosphere and easy access to rural pursuits draw back guests year after year.
Howtown Hotel
Penrith
For almost 120 years, the Baldry family have welcomed guests to their ancient farmhouse overlooking Lake Ullswater. ‘Wonderfully old-fashioned’ or ‘lost in time’, it’s a Marmite sort of hotel
The Arundell Arms
Lifton
‘No wonder Adam has such a loyal clientele,’ wrote a regular Guide reader after this year’s visit to the country sports hotel, a mere fly cast from Dartmoor.
Ballathie House
Stanley
In 1922 a young Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon (later Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, as we now think of her) joined a house party at this turreted Victorian country house on the River Tay.
2016 Editor's Choice Fishing Hotels
Editor’s Choice Fishing Hotels
Ballyvolane House
Fermoy
A mildly bohemian air filters through the Green family’s wisteria-hung Georgian country house hotel, bordered by bluebell woods.
Culdearn House
Grantown-on-Spey
‘The best hotel break we have ever had’ was enjoyed by visitors this year to William and Sonia Marshall’s Victorian villa.
Hotel Endsleigh
Tavistock
A Regency cottage-orné, built by Jeffry Wyatville as a fishing lodge for Georgiana, Duchess of Bedford, is run today in characteristic relaxed-chic style by Olga Polizzi (see also Tresanton, St Mawes).
Ardanaiseig
KILCHRENAN
Ardanaiseig closed as a hotel at the end of November 2017. It will be relaunched in 2018 a venue catering for groups, weddings, and corporate functions.
Best UK hotels for anglers
Anglers can combine a luxury hotel stay with fishing at one of our recommended fishing hotels. They have been independently reviewed and chosen based on their facilities, ambience and attention to detail.
You could cast your rod at Hotel Endsleigh near Tavistock on the banks of the River Tamar. The 19th-century fishing lodge has been restored and has eight miles of fishing and a ghillie to show you the ropes.
Try Forss House, Thurso, for salmon or trout fishing – in 1954 a fish weighing 42lbs was caught at the bottom of the garden. Tasty packed lunches for fishing trips are available and the hotel has a room for hanging rods, gutting and freezing fish or drying out wet gear.
Currarevagh House in County Galway is set in 180 acres of private parkland and woodland bordering on Lough Corrib. Fish on the lough for wild brown trout – with ghillies available if needed.