Beat 22
River Caldew, Hesket Bridge
1 Token
Brown Trout
Wading Difficulty 3
800m of single right bank riverbank fishing
RIVER CALDEW: This beat runs from Hesket Bridge upstream for 800m or so, this part of the river is heavily affected by flow and rainfall. Just above the beat part of the river diverts underground for several km and does not rejoin the river till further down.
STOCKS: Mainly small brownies and juvenile fish but plenty have been seen.
USEFUL INFORMATION: Continue over the bridge to Hesket Newmarket, where there is the local pub ‘The Old Crown’ and Fellside Stores village shop. This beat is only suitable during the shoulder ends of the season or when there has been plenty of rain and the river is up.
ACCESS & DIRECTIONS: From junction 41 on the M6 heading north take the left turn on the B5305 towards Sebergham, continue on this straight road for around 14.5km. Then take the left turn towards Caldbeck, Continue along this road for around 3km. Just before you get to Hesket Newmarket you will come to Hesket bridge, park in the lay-by space just before the bridge here.
This section of the river runs extremely low in the summer so is more suitable for the start and end of the season or after long periods of rain in the summer. This section of the river suffers so greatly because further up stream, part of the river diverts underground for several km and does not rejoin the river till further down.
The token box is located just inside the gateway into the field, which is just up the road from the lay-by. Enter through this gateway, making sure to close it behind you and make your way to the corner of the field where you will see the Beat Start sign just above the bridge. You will need to hop over the fence here to fish it properly.
From the bridge fish upstream on the right hand bank and walk along the riverside. The fence later gets tighter to the river edge, from here you may need to wade upstream or hop over the fence and walk further up. In the middle wooded section of the beat there are some slightly tricky areas where the bank is thick with scrub and/or steep in places. From here, alternatively you can walk directly uphill to the road. Walk along here till you come to more open scrub again then climb over the fence and walk back down to the river and fish upstream until you reach the Beat End sign. |
