Hemsworth Huts

Hemsworth Huts offers roughly half a mile of fly fishing on the River Allen, a classic chalk stream in Dorset that rises on the chalk downland of Cranborne Chase and flows southwards through Wimborne St Giles. Of all the English chalk streams, the Allen is one of the most private, with nearly its entire length under the ownership of just two large estates. The beat is rated suitable for beginners and fishes up to two rods, making it a relaxed introduction to chalk stream fly fishing in a genuinely quiet corner of Dorset. The Allen has a reputation as an excellent fishery supporting good stocks of wild brown trout, and also holds grayling and indigenous coarse fish. The water is gin-clear with plenty of ranunculus to support good fly life, making it ideal for sight fishing and fish that come from nowhere to grab a dry fly drifting along margins of bank and weed. The trout season opens in April with the grannom hatch, the mayfly hatches from late May into June, and summer brings olives, sedges, ants and daddy long legs. All fish are returned. The rental — available as a two-night weekend or three-night midweek stay — includes unlimited fishing on the River Allen from 3pm on the day of arrival to dusk on the day of departure. A 7.5ft rod with a 3–4wt floating line is the recommended outfit, with tippet down to 6x. Pricing runs from £532 for a shoulder-season weekend to £801 for a peak midweek stay, covering both shepherd's huts. Dogs are welcome; Hemsworth Two suits one adult or two young children, and booking both huts gives exclusive use of the site. On-site amenities include a wood-fired hot tub, BBQ, fire pit, WC and car parking — with no wi-fi and limited mobile signal, the focus stays firmly on the river.