River Kennet · Barton Court Estate
Old River
Old River is a fishing beat on the River Kennet at Barton Court Estate. Day tickets from £225.
Pricing and season
Indicative prices only. This calendar does not show whether a beat is bookable or already booked out, and other prices may apply. Always confirm availability and the final price with the booking provider before you travel.
Price calendar
How Old River compares on the River Kennet
Typical, lowest and highest full-day rod, from 7 beats with published day rates
Day tickets on the River Kennet run from £225 to £665. The typical full-day rate is around £225, peaking in April.
Compare with other riversFishing details
Old River at a glance
- Rods
- 1 – 6
- Difficulty
- Adventurer (3/5)
- Length
- –
- Water type
- main river
Fishing methods
Fly methods
The Old River beat sits on the River Kennet within the Barton Court Estate, between Hungerford and Kintbury in Berkshire, where the Kennet runs not as a single channel but as a network of main river, carriers, and side streams twisting through old water meadows, one moment you're stalking a trout in a narrow carrier under overhanging sedge, the next casting to a steady rise in the main river. The Old River section is characterised by dense hawthorn trees lining the banks, making it particularly productive when terrestrials are on the water, and the weed-rich channels of the 'old' river hold good fish that can be encouraged into the open. The estate is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), and the water runs with the clarity typical of a well-managed Berkshire chalk stream.
Brown and rainbow trout are present, with fish of three pounds and over regularly caught and a population of wild fish that increases year on year. The beat is rated suitable for beginners, and guided fishing is available on-site. Spring brings olive hatches combined with grannom and hawthorn; the mayfly follows, and through summer, caddis and adult olives return to the water in the evenings. Because the Kennet runs slightly cooler than most other chalk streams, the mayfly hatch tends to start a little later, producing a longer and more sustained hatch through late spring and early summer. As the season progresses, sedge, olive, and terrestrial hatches can be excellent, with beetles, ants, and hoppers providing good surface sport into late summer. Methods are restricted to single dry fly and traditional upstream nymph, with up to six rods on the water. On-site facilities include a brand-new shepherd's hut and a dedicated fishing hut for exclusive group use, with guided fishing, tackle hire, and catering from local chefs all available. Kintbury station sits just 64 metres from the fishery entrance, with additional parking available on Station Road or near the Dundas Arms.
Bookings for Barton Court give you access to all six beats.
Stocking and fish species
Rules and policies
Amenities
Where Old River is
The beat's boundary, with parking where we have it.
51.40491, -1.45744
The fishery and river
River
Rising from Swallowhead Springs near Silbury Hill in Wiltshire, the River Kennet is a chalk stream of 45 miles, flowing east through Marlborough and into Berkshire at Hungerford, where the Kennet and Avon Canal joins its course, then on through Newbury, where the River Lambourn enters, and east to Reading, where it…
Flies for this beat
Expected in October on the River Kennet
Typical months from the river’s hatch calendar, which applies along its whole length rather than to this beat. Not a live report.
Caperer
Sedge · #10-12
Kite's Imperial
Dry fly · #14-16
Daddy Long Legs
Terrestrial · #10-12
Sawyer's Killer Bug
Nymph · #12-16
The year ahead
Full calendarEvery hatch on the River Kennet and the months it usually runs.
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Similar beats on the River Kennet
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FAQ
Old River FAQs
Practical questions anglers ask before fishing Old River, from tickets to tactics.
