Bolton Abbey Fishery FAQs

Both day tickets and memberships allow you to fish the full extent of the river, being five miles from Barden Bridge to Kex Beck.

Bolton Abbey contains a good stock of both wild and stocked brown trout and grayling averaging 10”-12”.

Trout season: 25th March – 30th September
Grayling season: 16th June – 14 th March

Although it’s possible to catch fish without wading it can limit your ability to reach fish without avoiding drag. Thigh waders will suffice however chest waders are recommended as is a wading staff and life preserver.

Mark is a former member of the Association of Advanced Professional Game Angling Instructors and is therefore highly qualified to teach beginners and experienced anglers the skills to get the most out of a day's fishing at Bolton Abbey. Mark is a constant presence on the banks and is always available for help and guidance. If required, more formal lessons can be booked on enquiry.

Currently 9am – 5:30pm, with gates locked at 7pm.

Limited spaces are available at both Bolton Bridge and Barden Bridge

Yes, this can be found on the FAQs on the fishing website. A fishing map is also included in your purchase of a day ticket or are freely available from the Estate car park kiosks

Yes, this can be found on the FAQs on the fishing website

All visitors to the fishery should complete a catch returns book/slip even if no fish were caught as we need this information for management purchases. Please post these in the designated return boxes along the river. Catch return slips are available from our river keeper or at any Estate car park kiosk.

Fishing memberships can be purchased on our website and confirmation of your purchase will be sent via email. Your membership card will be posted out to you, using the address you provide when purchasing. On receipt of your membership card, you are able to fish the river. You will need to keep your membership card on you each time you visit the river.

To purchase a membership, please contact the Estate Office who will be able to send out to you a hard copy application form either in the post or via email. Please then return this, with a photograph of yourself and payment and we shall process your membership.

Memberships should be renewed online as usual, with a new membership card sent out to you on payment. This is to keep membership details and the members ID photo up to date.

Day tickets can be purchased on our website and you will receive an e-version of your day ticket by email. Day tickets that have been printed are still eligible. Please keep your day ticket on you at all times when visiting the river, should the river keeper wish to see it.

To buy a day ticket, the Estate Office will book this on your behalf by taking you through the booking requirements on the website. You will need your bank card details to complete the booking. The Estate Office can then email/post the day ticket to you or you can meet MW on the river.

To buy a day ticket, the Estate Office will book this on your behalf by taking you through the booking requirements on the website. You will need your bank card details to complete the booking. The Estate Office can then post the day ticket to you or you can arrange to meet our river keeper on the date of your visit to collect your day ticket.

Unfortunately, we do not offer gift vouchers at the moment but we hope to do so in the near future. If you would like to purchase a membership for a friend, you can do this by letting the Estate Office know that you wish to purchase a membership yourself online and we will change the details of the member when processing the membership card.

Capped membership at 75 fishermen over its 5 miles of double bank fishing - Continue to release 1,500 10”-14” diploid fish from our captive bred stock to maintain the vigour and hard fighting characteristic of wild brown trout - Provide padlock keys allowing out of hours riverside access/parking enabling our fishermen to fish the Estate during the hours that suit them - Expand on the existing livestock exclusion fencing to create: - a more stable bank - more diverse bank vegetation - increase terrestrial and aquatic insect life - more sanctuary areas for fish and fishermen alike - reduction in particulate runoff and sediment in spawning grounds

Membership will also include: - 2 guest fishing tickets per annum - Under 18s can fish free of charge when accompanied by a member - Introduce a member for 10% reduction in both year one fees* - An annual season ticket pass for one vehicle to Bolton Abbey car parks with associated member benefits, which in brief are: - 10% discount off giftware, food & drink items in the Village & Cavendish shop - 10% discount at the Cavendish Pavilion - 10% discount on food at the Devonshire Arms Country House Hotel and Spa (excluding the Burlington Restaurant) - 10% discount on food at the Devonshire Fell not applicable on Bank Holidays . - Discounted members’ dinner (on a date to be agreed)

Up to a maximum of 5 day tickets per day are available from 1st June to 14th March. Day ticket fishermen are welcome to fish the entirety of the Estate’s waters from Barden Bridge to Kex Beck and from first light to last light, but parking, out of hours to the Estate’s main car parks, is limited to the spaces at Bolton Bridge and Barden Bridge. Once open, the ticket also includes free access to all the Estate’s car parks. Day ticket fishermen should ensure they have vacated the car parks by the allocated closing time.