River Dun
The River Dun in Hampshire, United Kingdom is one of the UK's most celebrated chalk streams. Browse 2 fishing beats along its 11-mile course, or explore the hatches, fish species, and seasons below.
Dunbridge
Rising near the villages of East and West Grimstead in Wiltshire, the River Dun flows east through the county border, passing north of Lockerley and Dunbridge before joining the River Test near Kimbridge — a journey of around eleven miles. The river displays many classic chalk stream features, though much of its catchment drains tertiary clay and alluvial gravel geology, giving it slightly flashier flow characteristics and higher suspended sediment levels than some of its Test tributaries. The upper reaches above West Dean are ephemeral and can dry up completely during drought periods, so the more reliable fishing lies in the middle and lower valley.
The Dun is smaller and less prolific than other rivers in Hampshire, but it can also be quieter during busy periods — an advantage for anglers who prefer unhurried water. Brown trout and grayling are the primary quarry. The trout season runs broadly from April to early October, with the hawthorn hatch arriving in late April, the mayfly from mid-May to early June, and a variety of caddis, olives, and terrestrials through summer. Upstream dry fly and nymph are the standard methods on a river this size. The Dun is also home to protected species including the great crested newt, so anglers are expected to take care of the environment and practise responsible fishing.
The Mottisfont Abbey Estate holds a stretch of the River Dun immediately above its confluence with the Test, making it one of the most notable access points on the lower river. The Kimbridge Estate also encompasses the River Dun alongside its main Test water, managed as a purist fishery adhering to traditional upstream dry fly fishing for wild and stocked brown trout. FishingBeats currently lists two beats on the Dun — a rare opportunity to fish a quiet, intimate chalk stream in the heart of the Test Valley.
River Details
- Length
- 11 miles
- Source
- West Grimstead, Wiltshire
- Mouth
- Confluence with the River Test near Kimbridge / Mottisfont, Hampshire
- Tributary of
- River Test
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Water Type
- chalk stream
- Website
- Visit website →
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Follow @fishingbeatsFishing Beats on the River Dun
2 beats availableBrowse day tickets, syndicate access, and permit fishing on the River Dun. Each beat listing includes pricing, species, and booking details.
Dunbridge
A third of a mile of single-bank dry fly water on the lower River Dun, the Dunbridge beat sits just upstream of the hamlet of Dunbridge in Hampshire's Test Valley, a short distance before the river joins the Test near Kimbridge. The Dun runs for around 11 miles in a generally easterly direction through rural parts of Wiltshire and Hampshire, and is smaller and less prolific than other rivers in Hampshire, but can be quieter during busy periods — a genuine advantage on a beat limited to one or two rods. The water here has classic chalk stream character: a long glide of relatively shallow water upstream of a footbridge, and a deep pool midway up where the river takes a left turn. From the car park, it is a walk of around 100 metres through a meadow to reach the river. A survey of all the Test's tributaries reportedly found that the Dun holds the highest numbers of wild trout of any of them, and the Dunbridge beat carries moderate stocking alongside that wild population. Brown trout and grayling are both present. Like the Itchen, the Dun is home to protected species including the great crested newt, so the environment is carefully managed. The season runs 1 May to 30 September, covering the full chalk stream hatch calendar. The hawthorn hatch falls in late April, with the mayfly running from mid-May to early June — the latter priced at £395 per rod. Medium olive and blue-winged olive hatches carry the fishing through summer, with dry fly the primary method throughout; nymphing is also permitted. The intimate scale and clear water make accurate presentation essential, and the beat is rated as adventurer difficulty. A 9ft 4–5wt rod with a fine tippet suits the conditions. Day rods are priced from £225 (early season) to £275 (main season). The fishing hut is sited near the top of the beat and is well appointed, with WC and car parking on site. The hamlet is served by Mottisfont & Dunbridge station on the Wessex Main Line, making this one of the more accessible chalk stream beats in Hampshire for car-free anglers.
The Blue Pool Beat
A tributary of the River Test, the River Dun joins the main river near Kimbridge at Mottisfont in Hampshire's Test Valley. The Blue Pool Beat runs just over a kilometre immediately upstream of Holbury Mill, where the river passes through secluded old woodland on a single-bank configuration suited to one or two rods. The water averages around six metres wide and 1.5 metres deep, and like all chalk streams is commonly described as "gin clear." At the top of the beat sits the namesake Blue Pool — a spring rising directly from the chalk aquifer that gives the water a distinctly blue appearance, and which local folklore claims is bottomless. The beat carries a very good wild brown trout population, supported by extensive stream habitat above the beat that provides excellent spawning grounds. The Environment Agency and the Wessex Chalk Stream and Rivers Trust have worked together on fish passage improvements on the River Dun in Hampshire, with both mills now equipped with fish ladders allowing free migration throughout the system — raising the prospect of salmon spawning on the Dun again in the future. Fishing is upstream dry fly and upstream nymph only. The trout season runs from April to early October; hawthorn hatches arrive in late April, mayfly from mid-May to early June, and summer brings a variety of caddis, olives, and terrestrials. Reliable patterns include Black Gnat, Gold-Ribbed Hare's Ear, Pheasant Tail Nymph, Iron Blue, and Mayfly in season, tied on size 16 or smaller. The intimate width keeps presentations manageable and fish are generally visible in the clear water, making this a well-suited beat for beginners. A comfortable fishing hut and picnic furniture are on site — a practical base for a full day's fishing. The beat is a secluded spot and wildlife is abundant, with deer, kingfisher, and orchids regularly seen along the banks. A 9-foot, 4-weight rod is ideal for the width and the delicate presentations the clear water demands. An Environment Agency rod licence is required. The beat is accessed via Holbury Lane near Lockerley, with parking close to the water.
