NEWBRIDGE on WYE
A beautiful unspoilt stretch of the Upper Wye running through the Llysdinam Estate, Powys, which the Society has been privileged to attend by invitation since the 1950's.
All members of the Izaak Walton are eligible to visit on the notified dates which are agreed with the Estate annually. Those for 2025 are shown on the fixture list. There are ten days in total.
On the given days we travel individually by car and meet by Brynwern Bridge at the River Wye. From the village centre of Newbridge on Wye (post code LD1 6HY) travel South on the A470 towards Builth Wells. On the edge of the village, where the speed restrictions end, turn right down a minor road and after about 200 yards turn right again down an even more minor road which leads to Brynwern Bridge where we park off road for the day. Journey time from the village is only minutes. We wait there until all have assembled.
These days numbers attending are usually only modest perhaps four to six people. Members may coarse or fly fish although as marked on the fixture list one of the ten days is reserved exclusively for the fly only.
When the river is in spate there can be notification of cancellation. Prior notification of attendance to the Secretary can therefore avoid personal inconvenience although sometimes the decision to call off can be a fine and difficult late judgement.
Apart from the usual natural factors to affect the fishing (e.g. the amount of rain in the Welsh Hills on the preceding days) the success of visits can occasionally be influenced by compensation waters released from the Elan Valley. The difficulty is not with the volume of water but its cold temperature from the bottom of the reservoirs. It can be disruptive to fish feeding and activity when it first occurs. Equally at times of heat wave it can moderate the temperature of the water and facilitate the continuation of fishing without stress to the fish.
Fishing is for chub, trout and notably grayling. The venue is ideal for fly fishing tactics but often coarse fishing results in larger weights. Legitimate baits for coarse fishing are listed on the fixtures page. We do not fish for salmon under any circumstances which have always been the preserve of the Estate.
Waders with metal studs are recommended for safety in view of the slippery river bed rock.
A charge usually of the order of £10.00 per head is collected from each member attending on the day which as a courtesy is donated to the Estate and Gamekeeper.
Access.
Meet at Brynwern Bridge over the River Wye. The location using What3Words is 'motored.crowned.barmaid'. If you are not familiar with that method travel South out of Newbridge on the A460 towards Builth Wells and on the edge of the village, where the speed restrictions end, turn right down a minor road signposted Brynwern. After about 200 yards turn right again down a more minor road, also signposted Brynwern, which will take you down to Brynwern Bridge where we park for the day. Park on the grassy verge adjoining the bridge or, if directed and conditions are favourable, in the field by the bridge.