Bolton Estate River Ure Fishing — Bolton Hall / Wensley beats

River level

The lowdown

• Three beats give you a bit of choice, although the estate doesn’t publish a detailed peg-by-peg breakdown. The setting is classic Wensleydale: wooded and pastoral banks, estate water and the Ure running through it.
• This is all-round fly fishing, and it’s fly only. The named quarry is trout, salmon and grayling, so there’s plenty of interest through the season.
• The estate keeps one rod on each beat, with usually no more than two rods available per beat per day. A third rod may sometimes be available, but you’ll need to contact the estate office.
• This isn’t a chuck-the-car-anywhere sort of trip. Ordinary two-wheel-drive vehicles can’t access the fishing, so plan around the estate’s access arrangements.
• Freelance ghillie Brian Towers is recommended, especially for a first visit. He can also provide transport around the beat in a 4x4, which should save a fair bit of faff.
• Expect a proper wild-river approach rather than a commercial-style session. Work the fly water carefully and keep an eye on the changing river conditions around the glides and banks.
• The estate applies strict catch and release throughout the season until stocks become more robust. Every salmon must be returned, and fish returns need sending in as soon as possible after fishing.
• It’s a quiet, managed estate fishery with limited rods and a sportsmanlike feel. Anglers enter and fish at their own risk, while vehicle and personal-property security stays their responsibility.
• We're not sure on ticket prices for this one — check with the club or local regulations before you leave.

Methods: Fly only, with an all-round fly-fishing approach. The estate recommends using its freelance ghillie, particularly for a first visit, and he can provide 4x4 transport around the beat.

Access & tickets

Day tickets are booked online through the Bolton Estate FishPal booking page. Current prices are shown during the FishPal booking process; the estate’s own page does not publish them.

Fish the club names

trout, chub, trout

Key rules

• Fishing is fly only.
• All salmon must be returned.
• Strict catch and release applies throughout the season until stocks become more robust.
• Anglers must carry their day ticket while fishing.
• A valid Environment Agency migratory fishing licence is required.
• Anglers must not be accompanied by dogs.
• Fish returns must be submitted to the estate as soon as possible after fishing.
• Anglers must behave in a gentlemanly and sportsmanlike manner.

Where it is