Leckford Estate Fishing

Sitting on the middle River Test, north of Stockbridge, Leckford Estate Fishing is managed as part of the John Lewis Partnership and offers one of the most accessible stretches of Hampshire chalk stream fly fishing available on day ticket. Eleven miles of the River Test are covered across nine bookable beats, with both single and double bank options and clear, nutrient-rich water holding brown trout, rainbow trout, and grayling.

The Test at this point is not a single channel — carriers, side streams, and the main river run in parallel, giving each beat its own character, from carrier-focused beats with shorter main river sections to double-bank main river with shallow glides deepening into holding pools. A team of full-time riverkeepers maintains the fishery, which sits within the Test Valley SSSI, surrounded by water meadows and reed beds. Visiting anglers can book day tickets or membership, and the estate supports beginners and improvers with tuition and beginners' courses on the lakes.

Two stillwater options — Testside Lakes and Longstock Park Lake — round out the offer, with fishing lodges at each. Equipment hire, ghillie services, accommodation, and corporate packages are also available, making Leckford Estate a practical base for a full chalk stream trip in Hampshire.