The River Wye and Derwent both offer excellent fishing for brown trout and the occasional rainbow trout.
We find fishermen from all over the world coming to sample these nearby rivers, and believe that they offer exceptional beats to explore.
The River Wye
The River Wye is one of Derbyshire’s best-known rivers and is popular with anglers owing to the large numbers of wild brown trout, rainbow trout and grayling it contains. The river’s source lies just west of Buxton, on Axe Edge Moor. Part of the flow passes underground through Poole’s Cavern before rising at Wye Head, and flowing through the Pavilion Gardens in Buxton.
It then flows east, along a route roughly followed by the A6 road. It enters the Peak District, flows just south of Tideswell, then through Ashford in the Water and Bakewell, and south of Haddon Hall, before meeting the River Derwent at Rowsley.
The alkalinity of the Wye provides a rich source of nutrients that leads to an abundance of insects, invertebrates and other wildlife. This ensures that the trout and grayling grow quickly on a diet of freshwater shrimp, sedge and upwinged flies. Some of the largest populations of water voles in Britain can also be found along the River Wye.
In a special arrangement with Cressbrook & Litton Flyfishers Club, guests of The Cavendish Hotel are able to fish the members’ water from Ashford to Monsal Dale on the River Wye.
The River Derwent
The Derwent stretches 66 miles through rural Derbyshire. Once providing power to the industrial cotton factories during the revolution, today it supplies water to neighbouring cities. Trout and grayling are the predominant species but barbel and chub can be found in most stretches for anglers prepared to spend some time getting to know the river. Dace, roach and quality perch are also to be found as are the occasional carp, especially in the Matlock Bath beats.