Birthplace of angling

The Dove is one of the most prestigious trout streams in England, a rare northern chalk stream that rivals the exclusive rivers of the south, such as the Test and Itchen. Indeed, this is the birthplace of the esoteric art of recreational angling, where gentlemen anglers Izaak Walton and Charles Cotton perfected the techniques of fishing for pleasure rather than the pot in the 17th century. Walton’s book, The Compleat Angler was largely inspired by his angling exploits with Cotton on the River Dove, and the pair built a ‘fishing house’ beside the river, 9½ miles upstream in Beresford Dale. The Izaak Walton Hotel stands near the entrance to Dovedale opposite the main car park.