The Compleat Angler - Part Three

RIVER DOVE PEAK DISTRICT

“May all anglers and very honest men find the way there once before they die.”
Roderick Haig-Brown, 
Izaak Walton: His Friends and his Rivers (1984)
Along with research and fishing excursions to the River Frome, Colin has also spent time on the Dove - both fishing and taking in The Compleat Angler experience following in the footsteps of Cotton and Walton.

Cutting its way through the limestone hills in the southwest of the Peak District, the Dove runs mainly north-south for 45 miles until it joins the Trent. For much of its length, the Dove forms the county boundary between Derbyshire and Staffordshire. 

Charles Cotton owned a large stretch of the river than ran beside his Beresford estate. Today, this historic 'Temple Beat' is still privately owned and is maintained under scrupulous stewardship. It is also the site of Cotton's legendary Fishing 'Temple' - hence the name of the beat. 

A WALK ALONG THE DOVE - TEMPLE BEAT

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TEMPLE BEAT 1

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TEMPLE BEAT 2

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Pike-Pool-River-Dove-Compleat-Angler Walton Cotton

PIKE POOL

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APPROACH TO FISHING HOUSE

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VIDEO TRIPTYCH OF VARIOUS STRETCHES OF THE RIVER DOVE
THE CHARLES COTTON HOTEL, HARTINGTON
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A perfect place to base yourself for a visit to the River Dove - only a few miles away. 
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Breakfast in the Charles Cotton Hotel, with Charles looking on. 

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