Springs south of Westerham, Kent to River Thames at Long Reach, Dartford · 21 miles
Fly Fishing on the River Darent
2 beats on the River Darent sell access by the day.
Where the River Darent runs
The river's course with every beat and fishery we list on it. Tap a marker for a quick read on price.
Fishing Beats on the River Darent
2 beats availableBrowse day tickets, syndicate rods, and permit fishing on the River Darent. Each beat listing includes pricing, species, and booking details.
Clubs and syndicates on the River Darent
2 clubsMembership bodies holding water on the River Darent. Some sell day tickets alongside membership, others are open to members only, and a few run a waiting list.
About the River Darent
River Darent at a glance
- Length
- 21 miles
- Source
- Springs south of Westerham, Kent
- Mouth
- River Thames at Long Reach, Dartford
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Water type
- Chalk stream
Fish species
Anglers on the River Darent can target brown trout and rainbow trout. Brown trout dominate most chalk stream beats; grayling, sea trout, and salmon appear on certain rivers and seasons.
The River Darent is a Kent chalk stream, fed by springs in the hills south of Westerham. It flows east and then north through Sevenoaks, Otford, Shoreham, Lullingstone, Eynsford, Farningham and Horton Kirby to Dartford, where it meets the Thames. The Wild Trout Trust gives its length as 21 miles.
It has the usual signs of a chalk river: clear water, plenty of weed, low banks and fairly steady flows. It has also been hard used. Over-abstraction has dried sections of the river more than once, with serious effects on the fishery, and the mills and lakes along it have broken up the habitat. Wild brown trout declined in the early 1900s after the river was contaminated during road building, and the clubs on it are working with partners to bring the wild fish back.
Darent Valley Trout Fishers lease about 3 miles between Shoreham and Farningham, mostly for brown trout with some rainbows on a few beats. Kingfisher Angling and Preservation Society fish the river in the grounds of Lullingstone Castle, fly only and catch and release, from 1 April to 30 September.
Fishing is held by clubs, so check the details for the stretch you plan to fish.
FAQ
River Darent FAQs
Common questions about fishing the River Darent, from day tickets and seasons to what to expect on the bank.
