2022 Editor's Choice Fishing Hotels
Editor’s Choice Fishing Hotels
The Inn at Whitewell
Clitheroe
On the banks of the River Hodder in the Forest of Bowland, this 'cheerful, doggy' inn is chock-full of tradition, with stone-flagged floors, open fires, oak furniture and walls bedecked with paintings and hunting cartoons.
Temple House
Ballymote
A ruined Knights Templar castle sits beside a mile-long lake in the grounds belonging to Roderick and Helena Perceval's impressive classical mansion.
Enniscoe House
Ballina
A single-track road meanders through woodlands to this Georgian mansion at the foot of lonely Nephin mountain, overlooking Lough Conn, where Susan Kellett and son DJ are 'welcoming hosts'.
Newport House
Newport
You don’t have to be a fly-fisher to check in at Kieran Thompson’s creeper-swathed, late Georgian mansion with views over the Newport River estuary and Clew Bay, but if you are into the sport, this is indeed the place to stay.
Kinloch Lodge
Isle of Skye
‘A great place to stay if you’re after excellent food and high standards of comfort’, the family home of Lord Macdonald and his wife, cookery writer Lady Claire Macdonald, is ‘in a beautiful position’ on the shores of Loch Na Dal.
The Devonshire Arms
Skipton
Part of the Duke of Devonshire’s Yorkshire estate at Bolton Abbey, the Devonshire Arms has grown from a 17th-century inn to a country house hotel with spa, fine dining and helipads.
The Trout at Tadpole Bridge
Buckland Marsh
You can arrive by narrow boat and tie up by this Georgian pub on a peaceful stretch of the Thames with views of the eponymous stone bridge, or simply watch others messing about in boats as you sip a beer in the riverside garden.
From £130 per night
Forss House
Thurso
The River Forss curves around the wooded grounds of this late Georgian country house, run today as a ‘wonderful hotel’ with salmon fishing at the bottom of the garden.
Glenapp Castle
Ballantrae
Gazing out over the Ayrshire coast to the Isle of Arran, Glenapp may be towered and turreted, but the Scottish Baronial-style hotel (Relais & Châteaux) is more luxury country house than castle.
2021 Editor's Choice Fishing Hotels
Editor’s Choice Fishing Hotels
Gliffaes
Crickhowell
Bedrooms look on to the River Usk, where guests can fish for trout and salmon on one of the hotel’s three beats along a mile of left-bank fishing, with more beats upriver. If you land a trout, the kitchen can cook it for your breakfast.
The Peacock at Rowsley
Rowsley
Only guests at Lord and Lady Manners’s hotel can fish for trout in low season on the 15 miles of banks along four rivers running through the Haddon Estate. One is the Derbyshire Wye, known for its population of wild rainbow trout.
The Inn at Whitewell
Clitheroe
On the banks of the Hodder in the Forest of Bowland, this rural inn has residents- only rights to fishing on seven miles of riverbanks. There are 14 pools and interesting runs, along with the services of a ghillie should you need them.
Temple House
Ballymote
Monster pike of up to 46 pounds lurk in the 200-acre Temple House Lake – the one on the hall’s mantelpiece weighs a measly 32 pounds. This is a great place for coarse fishing, including perch and bream, with four boats to take on the water.
Newport House
Newport
The fishing rights to eight miles of the Newport river are held by this Georgian mansion overlooking the estuary. It is one of the few Irish fisheries where spring salmon can be fished from a boat. Your catch can be frozen or smoked.
The Devonshire Arms
Skipton
Running through the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire’s Bolton Abbey Estate is the River Wharf. You can fly fish for trout and grayling along a 4½-mile stretch surrounded by the scenic Yorkshire Dales.
Hotel Endsleigh
Tavistock
A ghillie will give you tips on the best way to cast and catch salmon on eight miles of the Tamar at Olga Polizzi’s country hotel, built as a fishing lodge for Georgiana, Duchess of Bedford. Tackle and tuition are available.
Forss House
Thurso
A 42-pound salmon was landed in 1954 at the bottom of this Highland retreat’s garden, looped around by the River Forss. We can’t guarantee anything similar but occasional rods are available to rent, with permits available on other rivers.
Shieldaig Lodge
Gairloch
You can join a local fisherman for creel fishing on a sea loch and the lodge’s chefs will cook a seafood platter with your spoils. Shieldaig also has loch and river fishing on its 26,000-acre Highland estate, with ghillies and tuition.
Lake Country House Hotel & Spa
Llangammarch Wells
It’s a short walk from Jean-Pierre Mifsud’s former fishing lodge to the well-stocked trout lake. More experienced anglers can try their luck for trout and grayling on seven miles of the River Irfon, which runs through the hotel grounds.
2020 Editor's Choice Fishing Hotels
Editor’s Choice Fishing Hotels
Gliffaes
Crickhowell
The River Usk flows through the beautiful grounds of this Italianate mansion in the Brecon Beacons national park, with beats on a mile-and-a-half stretch. Fish for wild brown trout from early March. Take a course with recommended ghillies and guides.
The Peacock at Rowsley
Rowsley
Guests at Lord and Lady Manners’s manor house hotel, as well as day-ticket holders, can fish on more than 15 miles of the four rivers that run through the Haddon Estate, including seven miles of the Derbyshire Wye, the only river in the UK with wild rainbow trout.
Pen-y-Dyffryn
Oswestry
Ideal for a tranquil hour or two with rod and line, and just two minutes’ walk from the Hunter family’s hotel, is a private pool stocked with rainbow, brown and blue trout. Residents can fish for free. Bring your own tackle. You can keep one trout; please throw the rest back.
The Inn at Whitewell
Clitheroe
The River Hodder, flowing south from the Forest of Bowland to join the Ribble, passes through the grounds of Charles Bowman’s characterful inn, which has four rods for trout, sea trout and salmon on some seven miles of river, 14 pools and interesting runs. Ghillies on request.
Kinloch Lodge
Isle of Skye
From June through September – but never on a Sunday, Highland rules decree – guests taking a three-day fishing break at Lord and Lady Macdonald’s hunting lodge can fish for wild salmon, brown and sea trout in river and loch, with the expert help of a ghillie.
Hotel Endsleigh
Tavistock
Built as a fishing lodge for Georgiana, Duchess of Bedford, and formerly home to the local fishing club, Olga Polizzi’s Regency cottage orné is surrounded by parkland landscaped by Humphry Repton, with the Tamar running through. Guests can fly fish for salmon and sea trout on eight miles of riverbank – tackle and ghillie provided.
Riverwood
Pitlochry
And quiet flows the Tay past Ann and Alf Berry’s pristine B&B set in wooded grounds between river and golf club. Guests can fish for brown trout on a private 150-metre stretch of riverbank for no extra charge.
The Arundell Arms
Lifton
With full-time instructors, a tackle shop in an old cock-fighting pit and 20 miles of river bank on the Tamar and six tributaries, the Fox-Edwards family’s hotel has been a fisherman’s friend for more than 50 years. Its own, crystal-clear Tinhay Lake is fishable all year.
Lake Country House Hotel & Spa
Llangammarch Wells
The River Irfon, known for its grayling and wild brown trout, flows though the wooded grounds of Jean-Pierre Mifsud’s fishing lodge, in its rush to join the River Wye. As well as seven miles of riverbank there is a well-stocked trout lake. Tuition and tackle available.
Currarevagh House
Oughterard
You need no licence to fish in Lough Corrib at Henry Hodgson’s Victorian sporting lodge from mid-February through to September. The lough is renowned for its wild brown trout – and for the mayfly they gorge on (enterprising local schoolchildren can sell you a box of them).
2019 Editor's Choice Fishing Hotels
Editor’s Choice Fishing Hotels
Gliffaes
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.
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.
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.
Langass Lodge
Locheport
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
Crickhowell
There are sublime views from this eccentric Victorian country house with Italianate campaniles and 20th-century porte cochère, in wooded grounds overlooking the River Usk.
The House at Temple Sowerby
Penrith
In the oft-overlooked Eden valley, between the Lake District and North Pennines, this handsome country guest house offers 'high standards, a relaxed atmosphere' and fell views.
The Inn at Whitewell
Clitheroe
On the banks of the River Hodder in the Forest of Bowland, this 'cheerful, doggy' inn is chock-full of tradition, with stone-flagged floors, open fires, oak furniture and walls bedecked with paintings and hunting cartoons.
Enniscoe House
Ballina
A single-track road meanders through woodlands to this Georgian mansion at the foot of lonely Nephin mountain, overlooking Lough Conn, where Susan Kellett and son DJ are 'welcoming hosts'.
Ballyvolane House
Fermoy
Amid gardens and parkland, with bluebell woods and trout lakes, this Georgian country house, remodelled in the 19th century, is not a hotel but a family home, say third-generation owners Justin and Jenny Green.
Forss House
Thurso
The River Forss curves around the wooded grounds of this late Georgian country house, run today as a ‘wonderful hotel’ with salmon fishing at the bottom of the garden.
Shieldaig Lodge
Gairloch
With 'wonderful views' of Loch Gairloch, this Victorian hunting lodge on a wooded estate where falconry, fishing and deer stalking can all be laid on for guests now accepts dogs in its bedrooms and bar.
The Arundell Arms
Lifton
People get hooked on Adam Fox-Edwards’s country sports hotel close to Dartmoor, with its tackle shop in an original cock-fighting pit, ghillies for hire, and 20 miles of fishing on the Tamar and tributaries.
Langass Lodge
Locheport
On an island of white-sand beaches, lochs and peat bogs, Amanda and Niall Leveson Gower run their ‘handsome’ sporting lodge as a family-friendly hotel.
Ballathie House
Stanley
A Victorian ghost, a Russian duke and a former Prince of Wales have all graced this ‘lovely’ Scottish country house in a ‘delightful position’ on the River Tay.
2017 Editor's Choice Fishing Hotels
Editor’s Choice Fishing Hotels
Gliffaes
Crickhowell
There are sublime views from this eccentric Victorian country house with Italianate campaniles and 20th-century porte cochère, in wooded grounds overlooking the River Usk.
The Inn at Whitewell
Clitheroe
On the banks of the River Hodder in the Forest of Bowland, this 'cheerful, doggy' inn is chock-full of tradition, with stone-flagged floors, open fires, oak furniture and walls bedecked with paintings and hunting cartoons.
Knockinaam Lodge
Portpatrick
A 'wonderful country house hotel in a peaceful location by the sea' this former Victorian hunting lodge comes with panelled walls, log fires, period furniture, the obligatory stag's head, a dazzling array of malt whiskies, and views across the water to Northern Ireland.
Enniscoe House
Ballina
A single-track road meanders through woodlands to this Georgian mansion at the foot of lonely Nephin mountain, overlooking Lough Conn, where Susan Kellett and son DJ are 'welcoming hosts'.
Howtown Hotel
Penrith
Guests were ’intrigued by the old-style hospitality’ of this Ullswater institution, a creeper-covered lakeside farmhouse that maintains the traditions of a bygone age.
Forss House
Thurso
The River Forss curves around the wooded grounds of this late Georgian country house, run today as a ‘wonderful hotel’ with salmon fishing at the bottom of the garden.
The Arundell Arms
Lifton
People get hooked on Adam Fox-Edwards’s country sports hotel close to Dartmoor, with its tackle shop in an original cock-fighting pit, ghillies for hire, and 20 miles of fishing on the Tamar and tributaries.
Lake Country House Hotel & Spa
Llangammarch Wells
Anne Hathaway meets Heidi in the hybrid architecture of Pierre Mifsud’s former hunting and fishing lodge, beautifully situated in the foothills of Mynydd Epynt, with a trout lake and the River Irfon running through.
Currarevagh House
Oughterard
With cakes on the sideboard, drinks by the fire, and a gong to summon guests to dinner, Henry and Lucy Hodgson’s Victorian mansion in parkland on Lough Corrib has the atmosphere of a much-loved home.
Ballathie House
Stanley
A Victorian ghost, a Russian duke and a former Prince of Wales have all graced this ‘lovely’ Scottish country house in a ‘delightful position’ on the River Tay.
2016 Editor's Choice Fishing Hotels
Editor’s Choice Fishing Hotels
Ballyvolane House
Fermoy
Amid gardens and parkland, with bluebell woods and trout lakes, this Georgian country house, remodelled in the 19th century, is not a hotel but a family home, say third-generation owners Justin and Jenny Green.
Culdearn House
Grantown-on-Spey
Guests can follow the Speyside whisky trail from the Marshall family's bay-fronted Victorian house, then return to sit by the fire with a dram from a list of fine malts and rare single-barrel casks.
Hotel Endsleigh
Tavistock
Olga Polizzi's cottage-orné with tall chimneys, verandas, gables and dormers, in an Arcadian landscape on the River Tamar, is full of flair – and of history.
Ardanaiseig
Kilchrenan
Swing round a winding road to this turreted, Jacobean-style baronial mansion – ‘a palatial old joint’ – in a ‘beautiful’ setting on the shores of Loch Awe.
Best UK hotels for anglers
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.