The Beckford Arms reads like a well-penned chapter of Wiltshire. An ivy-clad 18th-century inn that has traded in stagecoaches and country gossip long enough to feel comfortably inevitable. Nestled in Wiltshire’s Fonthill Estate, just beyond its own grand stone arch entrance, it has the picture perfect location of a storybook inn.

Reimagined for the 21st century without losing its bones, it offers a gentle kind of country hospitality: calm, convivial and quietly confident.  With first class trout fly fishing on the nearby chalkstreams, the Nadder and Wylye, and long popular with the game and fieldsports lot, this is undoubtedly a Fork and Feather favourite, welcome, to the Beckford Arms.

Fly Fishing and fieldsports are not an afterthought here but part of the place’s DNA. Nestled in the rolling folds of the Fonthill Estate, the Beckford acts as a country-house base for all the classic game and country pursuits. It’s the sort of spot where a rod and a box of flies, a well-packed lunch, and an obliging guide are part of the weekend kit.

Nearby are the Rivers  Nadder and Wylye, both offering fantastic fly fishing prospects, with many famous beats within a rollcast of your bedroom. East is the Hampshire Avon, and beyond that the famous Test and Itchen. Go west and you’ll find, the Dorset Frome, with nothing in-between but the rolling hills of the english countryside.

Set on the rolling parkland of the Fonthill Estate in south Wiltshire, the Beckford is conveniently placed for Salisbury and Stonehenge while still feeling gloriously remote. It’s under two hours from London by road or train, which helps explain why weekenders and local shooting parties mix so easily in the bar. The A303 is near enough for access, and far enough to keep noise out. It’s a five starrer!

The Inn favours low-key, rustic decor: exposed beams, a well-worn oak bar, open fires and hops or game hanging from the ceiling. On the walls are nods to its english heritage roots; rowing, shooting and other sporting memorabilia. The recent refurbishments have kept the pub’s Georgian bones but added a restrained, contemporary comfort — think quality fabrics, no fussy ornament, and a garden that looks as if guests have always sat there. It’s more “country kin” than country club.

With only a handful  above the pub, rooms are simple, tasteful and individually furnished, leaning towards cosy rather than grand. There are standing roll top bathtubs in some, beds are comfortable, bathrooms neat, and the service is frank, helpful and unflurried: the staff know the neighbourhood, can book a guide for a shoot or fishing day, and offer local tips without pomp. If you want boutique polish, book the lodges or nearby Arch; if you want character, the rooms here will do nicely.

The menu reads like a celebration of the neighbourhood: game, Wiltshire meats, and seasonal produce framed by an assured wine list and a roster of local ales. Pies, dry-aged steaks and wood-fired offerings sit comfortably alongside lighter, garden-fresh plates. Meals are convivial affairs rather than theatrical tasting experiences – hearty, well executed and very much in sympathy with the pub’s relaxed temperament.

Our favourites were devils on horseback, chased up with hand dived scallops to start. For mains it was the Brixham Monkfish and charred hisbi cabbage, rounded off with a chocolate mousse, honeycomb and oakchurch raspberries for pudding. Breakfast was a proper full english with all the trimmings, followed by an array of fresh yogurts, fruits, pastries and cereals. Just what you need before a long day on the river!

You pay for atmosphere as much as for linen: the Beckford is good value for guests seeking a genuine country-inn experience with access to shooting, stalking and prime fly-fishing. Rates for B&B doubles tend to reflect the location and the quality of the food.