Wherwell Estate Fishing
River TestWherwell Estate Fishing is a fishery on the River Test. Below are the 7 beats available for booking, with pricing and access details.
Still fishing for pictures…
Contribute picturesWherwell Estate Fishing sits on the upper River Test in Hampshire, within northwest Hampshire's rolling chalkland, owned and cared for by the same family for over 100 years. The fishery covers around three miles of river across open water meadows, with beats typically comprising carrier streams alongside tree-lined pools and gravel runs. Seven numbered beats are available — Beats Nine, Ten and Eleven fish the main river, while Beats Three, Four, Five and Seven cover the smaller carriers.
Located on the upper Test, the river width is manageable for casting, with the majority of fishing done by overhead cast. The river holds good populations of wild brown trout and grayling alongside stocked fish. Trout fishing runs from the start of May through mid-October, with grayling fishing from mid-October through to mid-March. Day tickets and membership are both available.
Each beat has its own fishing hut, suitable for a group to take lunch, and the estate also provides a lakeside fishing hut with a kitchen, catch returns folders, and electronic gates. A secluded lake stocked with rainbow trout accommodates up to six rods per day and is open for year-round booking, offering an alternative for groups or families alongside the river beats.
Services & Amenities
Amenities
Location
Wherwell Estate Office, Wherwell, Andover, Hampshire, SP11 7JP
Contact
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7 beats availableEach beat has its own access, pricing, and difficulty. Browse all beats on the River Test or compare on the River Test map .
Beat Ten - Wherwell Estate
Beat Ten sits on the main River Test within the Wherwell Estate fishery, near the village of Wherwell in Hampshire's Test Valley. Beats 10 and 11 are on the main river channel, and at just over half a kilometre of double-bank water, this is one of the upper beats favoured by anglers looking for a larger river experience. The river widens noticeably here, with willow-lined banks offering access from both sides and plenty of room to work a dry fly upstream without feeling hemmed in. The river holds good populations of wild brown trout and grayling alongside stocked fish, and the beat is rated suitable for beginners — the open character of the main channel makes presentation straightforward compared to the tighter carrier beats elsewhere on the estate. Fishing is dry fly and small upstream nymphs only. From the 1st May opening, expect good hatches of smaller up-winged flies including medium olives and iron blue duns, with the main mayfly event typically starting in the latter half of the third week of May and running into early June. The riverkeeper manages weed cutting specifically to encourage prolific fly hatches throughout the season. The trout season runs 1 May to 15 October, priced at £218 per rod in 2026. Grayling fishing is available from 1 November at £85. Each beat has its own fishing hut, suitable for the group to use for lunch, and Beat Ten also benefits from access to a lakeside fishing hut with a kitchen. Electronic gates control site access. Catch returns are required and a folder is provided on the beat. Wherwell Estate is easily reached from London and many other towns in the south of England, whether by road or rail.
Beat Three - Wherwell Estate
Beat Three sits on one of the smaller carrier streams of the Wherwell Estate Fishing on the upper River Test in Hampshire, covering approximately 0.34 miles (540 metres) of chalk stream water. The beat runs at the intersection of two River Test carriers, meandering from open water meadow towards the thatched cottages on the edge of the village of Wherwell. The carriers here are characterised by tree-lined pools and gravel runs — intimate, readable water that suits an angler still building their chalk stream experience. The river holds good populations of wild brown trout and grayling alongside stocked fish. Rods may keep a brace of stocked trout, but wild trout should be returned carefully. Dry fly and small upstream nymphs are the methods here, and the carrier setting — manageable widths, clear chalk-filtered water — makes it well suited to beginners learning to read rising fish. From the season opener on 1 May, expect hatches of medium olives and iron blue duns, with the mayfly event typically beginning in the latter half of the third week of May and running into early June. Trout fishing runs through to mid-October, after which grayling fishing takes over through to mid-March. A day rod for trout beats costs £218 (2026); grayling days from 1 November are priced at £85. Each beat is serviced by its own fishing hut, and the estate also provides a lakeside fishing hut with kitchen facilities. Electronic gates control access to the fishery, and a catch returns folder is kept on the beat to support the estate's fish management. Wherwell Estate is within easy reach of London and the wider south of England, whether travelling by road or rail. A valid Environment Agency rod licence is required.
Beat Seven - Wherwell Estate
Beat Seven on the Wherwell Estate Fishing, near the village of Wherwell in Hampshire, is made up of two narrow parallel River Test carriers that converge at the lower end, giving a total bank length of 870 metres — just over half a mile of intimate chalk stream water. These carriers were originally part of the water meadow system, and while the fishery is stocked, the smaller channels hold a notably large population of wild brown trout. The deeper, slower character of the water provides ideal conditions for fish to hold and feed confidently, making it one of the more productive wild trout nurseries on the estate. Hatches begin from the season opener on 1 May, with medium olives and iron blue duns appearing early in the season, followed by the main mayfly event typically in the latter half of May and running into early June. The banks are well maintained by the river keeper, who manages weed cutting to encourage prolific hatches throughout the season. Dry fly and small upstream nymphs are the permitted methods, and the confined, tree-lined nature of the carriers rewards accurate, short-range casting — the upper Test's manageable width suits overhead casting well and makes Beat Seven a good choice for those newer to chalk stream fishing. Anglers may keep a brace of stocked trout; wild fish should be returned with care. The trout season runs from 1 May to mid-October, with grayling fishing available from mid-October through to mid-March. Day rod prices are £218 for trout (2026) and £85 for grayling from November 2026. Each beat is served by its own fishing hut, suitable for taking lunch. Access to the estate is via electronic gates, and catch returns folders are provided on the beat. The Wherwell Estate is within easy reach of London and the wider south of England, with Andover the nearest mainline station.
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.
Beat Five - Wherwell Estate
Beat Five covers approximately 0.4 miles of the River Test on the Wherwell Estate, situated on the upper River Test just upstream from the village of Wherwell in Hampshire. Beat Five is one of the smaller carrier streams on the estate, and the water changes character along its length — open and meadow-fringed at the top, tightening into a more enclosed, shaded run lower down. Marginal cress beds kick the flow from side to side, creating varied current lanes and holding lies throughout. The beat is rated as suitable for beginners, making it a practical introduction to chalk stream fishing without sacrificing the quality of the water. The river holds good populations of wild brown trout and grayling alongside stocked fish, and anglers may keep a brace of stocked trout if they wish, though wild trout should be handled carefully and returned. Fishing is dry fly and small upstream nymphs only. May brings the first mayfly hatch of the year alongside other upwinged species, while June sees blue-winged olives and medium olives come through. September sees the return of the large dark olive as temperatures cool, and the final weeks of the trout season into early October can produce excellent sport as fish feed hard before winter. The trout season runs 1 May to 15 October; grayling fishing starts mid-October and runs through to mid-March, with day rod prices from £85 for grayling and £218 for a trout day. The estate is easily reached from London — around one hour fifteen minutes by road or train to Andover. On the bank, each beat is serviced by its own fishing hut, suitable for the group to use for lunch. The fishery also provides a catch returns folder and access via electronic gates, keeping the day straightforward from arrival to sign-off.
Beat Eleven - Wherwell Estate
Beat Eleven sits on the main channel of the River Test within the Wherwell Estate, just upstream from the village of Wherwell in Hampshire. At 0.42 miles of single-bank main river, it is one of the larger, more open beats on the estate — favoured by anglers looking for a bigger river experience compared to the narrower carriers lower in the numbering. Beats 11, 10 and 9 are on the main river, giving this stretch a character distinct from the tree-lined carrier beats: expect wider glides, clear chalk-filtered water, and fish holding in defined lies along the margins and weed edges. The beat fishes dry fly and nymph for brown trout and rainbow trout from 1 May to 15 October, with grayling available from November. Good hatches of smaller up-winged flies can be expected right from the start of the season, including medium olives and iron blues. May sees the first mayfly hatch of the year alongside other up-wings and terrestrials, while June brings blue-winged olives and medium olives. Stocking is moderate, and the river holds good populations of wild brown trout and grayling alongside stocked fish. The beat is rated beginner-friendly, making it a sound choice for anglers new to chalk stream fishing. It was also chosen as the location for Series 3, Episode 4 of the BBC's *Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing*, filmed during the mayfly hatch. The Wherwell Estate is in easy reach of London and many other main towns in the south of England — around one hour fifteen minutes by road or train from London Waterloo to Andover. The beat is accessed via electronic gates and comes with a fishing hut, a lakeside hut with kitchen, and a catch returns folder. Day rod pricing for the 2026 trout season is £218; grayling rods from 1 November 2026 are £85.
Beat Nine Wherwell Estate
Running on the main River Test rather than one of the estate's smaller carriers, Beat Nine sits on the main river within the Wherwell Estate on the upper River Test, just upstream from the village of Wherwell in Hampshire. The beat covers just over a third of a mile of single-bank chalk stream — a section where traditional autumn fringing and potentially good spawning and juvenile habitat characterise the margins — making it one of the more open, less-managed stretches on the estate. The river here holds good populations of wild brown trout and grayling alongside stocked fish, and the beat is fished on a dry fly and small upstream nymph basis throughout its season, which runs from 1 May to 15 October. The hawthorn hatch arrives in late April, the mayfly from mid-May to early June, and summer brings a variety of caddis, olives, and terrestrials — September sees the return of the Large Dark Olive, and the cooling temperatures of early October can provoke trout into an aggressive feed as they build condition before spawning. A brace of stocked trout may be retained; wild trout should be handled carefully and returned. Grayling fishing is available from 1 November at £85 per rod. The trout day rod rate for 2026 is £218. The estate is easily reached from London — around an hour and fifteen minutes by road or train to Andover. On-bank amenities include fishing huts with a catch returns folder, a lakeside hut with kitchen, and electronic gate access — practical comforts that suit a full day on the water without distraction.
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