FISH IN THE HEART OF THE UK
From brilliant stillwaters to prime River stretches, the Midlands is a top holiday choice
ALCOTT FARM FISHERY, ALVECHURCH, WORCESTERSHIRE
Alcott is a 65-acre equestrian Stud Farm which offers comfortable self-catering and bed and breakfast accommodation on site. The fishery has three fishing pools with some disabled pegs. One is stocked with mainly carp to 20lb and the other, smaller, lakes are teeming with silverfish and tench. Contact: 01564 824051 Website: www.alcottfarm.co.uk
ARROW MILL HOTEL, ALCESTER, WARWICKSHIRE
If you fancy a quintessentially English break with classic river fishing, this hotel close to Stratford upon Avon is for you. The 18-room hotel offer guests sport on the River Arrow, great to rove for chub, dace and barbel. Contact: 01789 762419 Website: www.arrowmill.com
BARLOW FISHERY, DRONFIELD, DERBYSHIRE
This fishery on the edge of the rolling hills of the Peak District offers no fewer than four coarse lakes, including a carp pool, as well as three trout fishing waters. For sleeping the fishery offers farm cottages or caravan and tent pitches. Contact: 0114 289 0543 Website: www.barlowlakes.co.uk
COBBLEACRE LAKES, HEVINGHAM, NORFOLK
Luxury camping spots and static caravans are situated in the peaceful Norfolk countryside. Nets of roach to 30lb can be taken on casters. Contact: 01603 754305 Website: www.cobbleacrelakes.co.uk
COLSTON HALL, WOODBRIDGE, SUFFOLK
Colston Hall comprises a 16th century farmhouse and cottages offering both self-catering and B&B holiday accommodation. Guests get to fish on two stunning private lakes containing silverfish and carp. Contact: 01728 638375 Website: www.colstonhall.com
EYE KETTLEBY LAKES, MELTON MOWBRAY, LEICESTERSHIRE
Seven coarse fishing lakes are supplemented by 12 extremely luxurious log cabins, some of which have hot-tubs as well as a touring pitch. Caravan pitches are also offered on the complex. The lakes offer quality sport with carp and silverfish, and there are some huge perch to be caught too. Contact: 01664 565900 Website: www.eyekettlebylakes.com
FIELDS END FARM, DODDINGTON, CAMBRIDGESHIRE
Personal-best roach and ide are on the cards here, and the self-catering lodges and camping park provide the ideal spot to bask in your own achievements. Contact: 01354 740199 Website: www.fieldsendfishing.co.uk
HAMSTALL FISHERY, RUGELEY, STAFFORDSHIRE
Four mixed pleasure pools, a specimen carp water and a stretch of the River Blythe make this fishery an attractive prospect. Accommodation consists of a large lodge which sleeps up to six people. Contact: 07495 430416 Website: www.fisheries.co.uk/hamstall
HAWFORD BRIDGE FISHERY, HAWFORD, WORCESTERSHIRE
Hawford has three peaceful carp and coarse pools, a new match lake and a stretch of the barbel and chub-filled River Salwarpe for anglers to enjoy. Accommodation is in three brand new self-catering holiday cottages adjacent to the site, each of which has two bedrooms and sleeps four people. Contact: 07525 070511 Website: www.hawfordbridgefishery.com
HIGHFIELDS COUNTRY RETREAT, SLEAFORD, LINCOLNSHIRE
Lots of effort has gone into making this
venue one of the best around, with breathtaking views over the lakes and countryside on offer from your holiday home. Contact: 01529 241185 Website: www.highfields-retreat.co.uk
MAVER LARFORD LAKES, STOURPORT, WORCESTERSHIRE
One of the nation’s top match venues, there are three lakes on site – Specimen, Match and Arena – along with some of the best barbel and chub fishing on the River Severn. Larford fishery offers 250 prime lake pegs and 80 more on the river. The fishery installed a number of luxury six-berth caravans last year which are now available to book. Contact: 01299 829373 Website: www.larfordlakes.co.uk
NINE OAKS FISHERY, OAKFORD, CEREDIGION, WEST WALES
From roach to 2lb to tench to 9lb, carp in the thirties and even trout, this fishery has it all. There are six lakes as well as a tackle shop on site, while its cottages and static caravans offer anglers self-catering accommodation located just two miles off the Welsh Coast, making it the perfect holiday destination for anglers’ families too. Contact: 01545 580 482 Website: www.nineoaks-fisheries.co.uk
SMEATONS LAKES, NEWARK, NOTTINGHAMSHIRE
Ninety acres of lakes and parkland offer a year-round haven for caravanners, owners of motorhomes and tourers, campers and, of course, anglers. There are several lakes holding most species but mainly carp, bream and tench, along with a prime stretch of the River Trent which is known for its monster barbel to 17lb-plus. Contact: 01636 605088 Website: www.smeatonslakes.co.uk
TEMPLE FARM, HINCKLEY, LEICESTERSHIRE
This working farm offers B&B accommodation as well as fishing on Dave’s Pool. The lake is a delightful and mature one-acre water. It has a central island and is surrounded by level grass banks. It holds a good head of fish including carp, bream, roach and small tench, so summer bites are easy to come by. Contact: 01455 220422 Website: www.templefarm.net
THE BARBEL LODGE, BRIDGNORTH, SHROPSHIRE
The aptly-named Barbel Lodge offers a quirky but compact three-bedroom wooden lodge which is only a short walk to a pub, as well as its own stretch of the River Severn offering some superb chub and barbel sport. Contact: 01746 862982, Website: www.barbellodgebridgnorth.co.uk
WATERLOO FARM LEISURE, MARKET HARBOROUGH, LEICESTERSHIRE
Rural lakeside log cabins as well as pitches for your own touring caravans are what’s on offer here. Residents have private access to one mixed stock pool as well as access to two other lakes which are often visited by Angling Times columnist Steve Ringer. There is a bar, a café and a nine-hole golf course as well as peasant countryside walks to enjoy. Contact: 01858 434098 Website: www.waterloofarmleisure.co.uk
WESTON POOLS FISHERY, OSWESTRY, SHROPSHIRE
Stay at one of the country’s top match fisheries and choose from a log cabin, a caravan pitch or camping on your own pitch. The fishery, sponsored by Tri-Cast, has six pools ideal for pole anglers, and is stocked with a number of species including carp, F1s, barbel, crucians and silverfish. Contact: 01691 671812 Website: www.weston-pools.co.uk
WOODSIDE FISHERY, CLEOBURY MORTIMER, SHROPSHIRE
Some members of the Angling Times staff have actually fished and stayed at this fishery, and we can more than recommend it. The fully-furnished log cabins are situated in quiet woodland, just yards from the fishery’s four cracking lakes which all offer match style fishing. However, the real highlight is the specimen perch to well over 4lb for which it has become justly famous. Contact: 01299 270565 Website: www.woodsidefishery.co.uk