Family and kids treats with Fishing Breaks in the Test Valley, Hampshire
Families can enjoy an experience together this year – sharing the excitement of learning to fly fish on the world-famous River Test, Hampshire. Fishing Breaks offers opportunities to bond during a Family Day or an Adult and Child Day at Nether Wallop Mill, the idyllic home of Fishing Breaks. Children can also take part in a fun and informative 3-day Fish summer camp or one day camp during half terms. They can even have their birthday party fishing with friends! Fishing Breaks was set up by Simon Cooper to make fly fishing accessible to everyone – and he’s certainly achieved that!
April 1st sees the beginning of Fishing Breaks’ fly-fishing season and the first Family Day and Adult and Child Days start on 3 April. Families and Adult and Child Days come with the services of a patient and helpful instructor and exclusive use of the Mill and the instructor. The days are broken up into bite size chunks with casting tuition, tackle tips, pond dipping, fly tying and plenty of fish catching. The aim is to make the day as fun as possible and fire the enthusiasm of all participants for many future fishing trips. Families have the use of a beautiful thatched oak fishing cabin with kitchen, lounge, log burner, veranda, WC, and BBQ area. Adult and child days are for any combination of adult and child – mother and daughter, father and daughter, grandparent and child and so on. It’s a wonderful way to share the magic of fly fishing and capturing that first trout! What a way to bond!
Day Camp for children is during the half term holidays (Easter Holidays, 8-11years, 8 April, 12-15 years 9 April, Autumn half term 8-11 years 21 Oct, 12-15 years 22 Oct). Based at Fishing Breaks’ Nether Wallop Mill and using the clear lake that teems with trout, this is the perfect place to have your first experience of fly fishing. Under the guidance of helpful instructors and with small groups of no more than 6 children, the day will involve an introduction to fly fishing, a fun and informative look at the ecology of the river and riverbank and even fish to take home! Tackle is provided so all you need to do is prepare a picnic. The 3-day Kids Fish Summer Camp (8-11years 15-17 July, 12-15years 22-24 July) is more of an immersion in fly fishing, with learning of the basics including tackle and gear, fishing knots and safety, a day’s fishing on the River Test, bug hunting, learning about the life of the trout and a chalk stream, river wildlife, competitions and preparing and cooking the catch for a tasty lunch!
Fly fishing is the perfect way of getting people together in the outdoors to learn something new (or re-kindle an existing interest.) and that’s what Fishing Breaks’ family activities are all about. Families can easily turn this into a unique break by booking nearby accommodation in this beautiful part of the world (visit Accommodation in the Test Valley – Visit Test Valley (visit-hampshire.co.uk) combining fishing with visits to local attractions and perhaps the New Forest or the popular cities of Salisbury or Winchester.
Even children’s birthday parties are catered for here at Nether Wallop Mill. Imagine how exciting this experience would be for a group of up to 8 kids of 8-16 years old on their special day! With no fishing knowledge required the children will have fun, supervised trout fishing with exclusive use of the Fishing Lodge where adults can lay out the party food that they’ve brought and watch while the children enjoy a 3-hour party with a difference!
Says Simon Cooper; ‘Fly fishing has seen a real surge in popularity with all kinds of people over the last few years, with many taking to it for the first time. It’s a fresh-air pastime, safe and perfect for children and families. I’ve always been passionate about younger people discovering the excitement of the sport, either with other children during our camps and children’s parties or with their families. The youngsters can learn about nature, wildlife, and weather at the same time – something that’s very important nowadays.’
The fly-fishing season is between April and September so hurry and book your family activity now! To find out more visit https://fishingbreaks.co.uk
