The Kennet Valley is one of those places that sneaks up on you. It doesn’t have the big-name reputation of the Test or the Itchen, but that’s exactly why it’s so good. There’s a quiet charm to it, a sense that the river still belongs to the land and the people who manage it. An authenticity that needs to be experienced in order to fully appreciate, much like the charm of an old Series Land Rover.
One noticeable difference is the water itself. The Kennet isn’t just a single channel; it’s a whole network combining the main river, carriers, and side streams twisting through old water meadows. At Barton Court, one minute you are stalking a trout in a narrow carrier under overhanging sedge, the next you’re casting to a steady rise in the main river. Every few hundred yards, the river feels new. It keeps you moving, observing, and thinking about your next cast. The diverse conditions cater to all abilities and tastes, making it fantastic for corporate gatherings with mixed abilities or solo fishermen who want to experience it all in a day.
There’s also an abundance of history here, both in the river and throughout the water meadows. This isn’t a river set up for tourists or prettied up for show. Places like Barton Court, Hungerford Town and Manor have been fished for over a hundred years. It’s where the classic fly, the Shaving Brush, was born, and you can feel that heritage in the water, the banks, even the fishing huts. But it doesn’t feel like a museum; it’s a living, working water, looked after by keepers who know and take pride in every inch.
And the wildness of it is still there. The trout are clever, the water can be tricky, and when the mayfly comes, chaos ensues as the river comes alive, the trout abandoning all caution. It’s late compared to some rivers, but that just makes it feel more intense. Swatting mayflies out of the way just to see your own fly land on the water is an adrenaline rush rarely beaten in our sport.
Fishing is one of those hobbies that absorbs time; some of that is getting to the fishing spot in the first place. It can often feel laborious loading up equipment and making the journey before you’ve even had a chance to cast. Fortunately, another perk of the Kennet is its easy access from numerous central locations, from Oxford to Central London. Barton Court is just a stone’s throw from Kintbury train station, yet once you’re on the water, it feels miles away from anything. You can fish for a couple of hours or a full day, and ice at one with nature. That balance of world-class fishing that doesn’t feel like an event is increasingly rare.
If I had to sum up what makes the Kennet Valley so special, it’s this: a chalk stream that feels alive, varied, and utterly genuine
The River Kennet and its fisheries.
Barton Court Estate (River Kennet, Kintbury)
Barton Court has an interesting history, with “modern” fishing taking place here since the Victorian era. It was the birthplace of Walter Barrot’s Shaving Brush fly and has been well written about in many fishing books over the years. In more recent times, it was well known as a mixed fishery, with roach and perch over 2lb caught and pike to over 30lb. To this day, it still holds the River Kennet record at 33lb 2oz from Upper Park. It is now back to being purely a fly-fishing venue, with an excellent head of wild brown trout, where you can truly experience authentic Kennet trout fishing.
Barton Court has a host of main river, carriers, and side streams, with over 3 miles of bank. No two sections are the same, as they all criss-cross and interlock along classic Berkshire water meadows. It is perfect for both confident chalkstream fishermen and those who want to ease into the sport.
Barton Court can offer day-rod access, as well as exclusive-use or group days, with guides, catering, and tackle hire to suit all abilities. It has excellent on-site facilities, including a brand-new shepherd’s hut and a dedicated fishing hut for exclusive group use. It also has the unique characteristic of having a train station just 64 metres from the entrance to the fishery.
Barton Court offers one of the best mayfly hatches on all of the southern chalkstreams, with it being so thick that you are swatting them away to maintain focus on your own fly. The mayfly hatch arrives comparatively late compared to other rivers, with the best sport often being found in the first few weeks of June.
The Mayfly season sells out quickly, so don’t delay in booking your visit here.
Avington / Denford Estate (River Kennet, Hungerford)
Avington is a lovely private stretch of the Upper Kennet, mainly used as a syndicate but with some group days on offer. Similar to Barton Court above, it offers a large section of the main river, along with side streams tucked away, ready to explore. With over 6 miles of mostly single-bank fishing, it is a well-maintained, stocked fishery.
Avington offers one of the best fishing lodges on the whole of the Kennet. Once a cricket pavilion, it was dismantled and moved to its current riverside location. The hut is filled with old fishing rods, cased fish, and trophy pictures of many happy anglers. It’s a lovely spot to spend a few hours at lunch alongside the river.
The Park, Benham Estate (River Kennet, Kintbury)
The Park offers a mix of fishing, with the larger main river criss-crossed by a plethora of carriers and side streams. Again, there is plenty of wild fish to go at, tucked away in the side streams, which are also supplemented by regular stocking. The keeper, Gary Allen, has been on the river for 30-plus years, so he knows everything there is to know about this stretch of river.
The Park offers the option for both season and day rods, with a well-equipped fishing hut on site and plenty of parking. The Park can be hampered by the Kennet & Avon Canal, which joins the river just upstream, meaning that on occasion it can suffer poor visibility due to algal blooms or murky water coming in from the canal.
Benham also has the Wilderness Fishery, which has its own separate river keeper and is run as a syndicate. Over the last two years, this has undergone significant river restoration on its upper sections which continues today.
Hungerford Town & Manor (Hungerford)
The Main Fishery consists of ten beats on the River Kennet, stretching from the Chilton Foliat fishery downstream to Avington. A fishery has been in existence here since the Wilton Fly Fishing Club started in 1876. It is currently run as three separate syndicates, with locals with commoners’ rights also having access to the fishing during the week. It is ideally suited to locals who want to fish for shorter periods of time, who can pop out and fish for a few hours.
For anyone looking to experience the River Kennet at its best, Barton Court really stands out. It has a little bit of everything that makes the Kennet Valley so special, with every twist and turn of the river bringing new challenges and different fishing situations. Whether you’re after a few quiet hours on the water or an exclusive group visit, Barton Court delivers chalkstream fishing at its very best. With excellent on-site facilities, convenient travel links, and knowledgeable staff, it has everything you could want.
This is the Kennet as it should be: alive, varied, and quietly unforgettable.