Fishing

Fly fishing on the River Test

The Test at The Lawn is a private wild trout stretch: a gin-clear, shallow chalk stream that is never stocked. To keep the fishing as good as it is, the beat is fished lightly and managed sustainably.

Wild trout, not stocked Managed sustainably to keep the wild trout fishing at its best
One rod at a time Two at most, for close friends fishing together
Rested between fishing days Fished on a couple of days a week, with rest days in between
Fly only, through Upstream Dry Fly Days on the beat are let through the agency
Rod licence required Every angler needs an Environment Agency rod licence
Shallow and unfenced About 2 feet deep; keep an eye on young children near the bank

Where you can fish

Both banks of the main river from the foot of the garden up to Frog Island, where the river splits into its eastern and western forks; both banks of the side stream and all round the island; and the south bank of the eastern fork beyond Frog Island.

Map of the garden and River Test at The Lawn. The fishable banks are marked: both banks of the main river from the foot of the walled garden up to Frog Island, where the river splits; both banks of the side stream around the island; and the south bank of the eastern fork beyond Frog Island, the island between the eastern and western forks. Church Street runs along the west of the grounds. A plantation of poplars and other trees lies east of the river. The house, fishing hut, footbridges and parking are also shown. — Drawn from aerial photography and the Land Registry plan, not to scale. On a phone, swipe sideways to see it all. Download the fishing map (PDF, A4)

1The house A short walk across the garden to the water
2Fishing hut Green and white hut on the bank, shelter from the rain
3Side stream Between the lawn and the island; fish from either bank
4The island Fish from both sides: the side stream and the main river
5Main river Both banks, from the foot of the garden up to Frog Island
6Frog Island Between the eastern and western forks; fish on along the south bank of the eastern fork
7Footbridges Two over the side stream, one across the main river
8Drive & parking Gated entrance from Church Street

Fishable bank
River and streams
Lawn
Meadow and long grass
Garden boundary

A base for a fly fishing trip

The Lawn makes a comfortable base for travelling fly fishers, with a wild trout beat at the bottom of the garden and Stockbridge, the home of English fly fishing, close by.

Coming as a group of anglers? Upstream Dry Fly can plan an itinerary across other beats on the Test, so everyone gets good fishing while the beat here stays at one or two rods.

Plan a fly fishing trip with a wild trout stream at the bottom of the garden.

Check availability Talk to Upstream Dry Fly