River Kennet

Just like its Hampshire cousins, the River Kennet is a sanctuary for the devoted fly fisher. Flowing east from the chalk downs of Wiltshire through to Berkshire’s broad valleys, it is widely regarded as one of England’s most beautiful and ecologically rich chalkstreams.

Its waters run lucid over bright gravels, gliding over emerald ribbons of ranunculus and starwort as it threads ancient water meadows, flint churches, and red-brick watermills. It slips under weathered footbridges and drifts through the grounds of stately country homes and sleepy thatched villages where time seems pleasantly delayed. Just as is unique to all the southern chalkstreams, the River Kennet has been shaped over centuries by both nature and careful human hand.  

The fly hatches can be prolific here, sometimes more so than anywhere on the River Test or Itchen. Olives, sedge, and mayfly lift in gauzy clouds that hang over the current like gunsmoke. Kingfishers flash electric blue across the surface, water voles gnaw on reed stems at the margins, and in the soft light of evening, trout begin to rise. 

In contrast to the immaculately maintained river banks of the River Test, the Kennet carries a slightly wilder spirit. The river winds through many sprawling country estates and the beats are extensive, often measured by the mile not the yard, so the fishing is a challenge and an adventure in every measure. A playground for the devoted fly fisher.