Winter is well underway and for many salmon and trout anglers this is a signal to pack up your tackle. However, for the keen coarse angler, this is an opportunity to escape the hustle and bustle of the impending festive period and take advantage of the less crowded waterways. But don’t limit yourself to your local riverbanks, why not escape for a weekend and explore some of the other waterways Britain has to offer?


Britain is a haven for the fishing community, whether you’re looking for rivers and streams, ponds, canals or still water fisheries, Great Britain is the ideal destination for a fishing escape.

However, the difficulty of finding your way around unknown territory could hinder your progress. The answer to this is simple – be sure to pack a good map! Not only will it guide you to your destination, but it will also highlight the waterways to help you plan your fishing escape.

Ordnance Survey’s Explorer map provides anglers with the most authoritative guide to the countryside yet. With unrivalled, accurate detail that highlights car parks, rivers, lakes, ponds and fisheries, the Explorer is the ultimate companion for uncovering even the most hidden waterways.

Where are some of Britain’s fishing hot spots?

Winter can be a great time of year for fishing and for some it’s the best season to catch large pike. The Norfolk Broads is Britain’s largest nationally protected wetland, its rivers, broads (shallow lakes), marshes and fens make it a unique area, rich in inhabitants. Whether you’re setting out alone or taking a guided fishing trip, the Broads is an ideal location for a fishing escape.

For the serious carp anglers among you, the south of England is home to the largest carp in the country. The warmer summers and milder winters make it the ideal environment for quick growing healthy specimens and there are numerous waters claiming to have carp of over 20lbs. The south has hundreds of waters to fish on a day ticket and one of the best ways to find them is by contacting the Environment Agency for a free copy of ‘Fishing in the South’. As well as highlighting the national and regional bylaws, this useful guide provides you with details of over 100 fisheries throughout the south.

If you’re thinking of escaping to Wales, The River Wye is building a reputation as an improving course fishery, with winter opportunities on some of the game fishing beats. This massive stretch of water is famous for its barbel, pike and chub, which are caught, in impressive numbers and sizes. Although the quality of the salmon fishing has declined in recent years, good catches can still be had when conditions are favourable. The nearby rural villages offer visitors a selection of traditional inns to take a well deserved rest and plan the next day.

For those travelling further north, Scotland is a world class fishing destination. With 4,174.48 miles of coastline just on the mainland and thousands of unspoilt rivers and lochs, you’ll find clean, clear water wherever you go and something for all abilities and budgets. There is no national close season for coarse fishing in Scotland and anglers will find an abundance of pike, roach, bream, tench, perch, carp and dace there for the taking. The Dumfries & Galloway area is one of the more developed areas of Scotland for coarse angling and is the ideal location for an angling holiday.

For free advice on fishing legislation throughout England and Wales contact the Fisheries Department at the Environment Agency or visit www.environment-agency.gov.uk/subjects/fish/ Ordnance Survey Explorer maps are available for all of Britain’s regions, providing you with hundreds of destinations to explore. For more details on which map to select for your fishing escape, visit www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/escape or your local book store.

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