Beat Four - Wherwell Estate

Situated on the upper River Test, just upstream from the village of Wherwell in Hampshire, Beat Four covers approximately 0.4 miles of carrier stream on the Wherwell Estate. Beat Four is one of several smaller carriers that make up the estate's eight-beat fishery, and its deeper, meandering character means trout hold confidently in well-defined lies — often visible from the bank before a cast is made.

The river holds good populations of wild brown trout and grayling alongside stocked fish, and the beat is well suited to beginners getting to grips with chalk stream technique. Fishing is dry fly and small upstream nymph only, running from 1 May to 15 October. May brings the first mayfly hatch of the year alongside other upwinged species, while June sees blue-winged olives and medium olives come into their own. September sees the return of the large dark olive, and the final weeks of the season in early October can produce excellent sport as cooling temperatures push trout into an aggressive pre-spawning feed. A brace of stocked trout may be kept; wild fish should be returned carefully.

Day rods are priced at £218 for the trout season (2026). Grayling fishing starts mid-October at £85 per rod from 1 November. Each beat is serviced by its own fishing hut, and the estate also provides a lakeside hut with kitchen facilities, electronic gate access, and a catch returns folder. The estate is around one hour fifteen minutes from London Waterloo by train to Andover, making it a practical day-trip destination from the capital.