Sport

Fishing and
Shooting at Dell

Dell Estate - whether you are planning a family gathering, a special occasion, a fishing or shooting party, or just a quiet time away in the Highlands - Dell is the perfect place for your Scottish holiday. All the images on this website were taken at Dell.

A fishing guide to Dell

Dell provides a host of fishing opportunities to suit most tastes. From trolling for salmon on Loch Ness to casting a delicate dry fly over brown trout on the river Fechlin,to hooking a breakfast tiddler in the Lodge Lochans, all of the fishing is in beautiful, unspoiled highland scenery. Our Keeper Colin Barclay will be pleased to guide you on all of the possibilities. The following examples gives an idea of what is available.

The River Fechlin

Though it flows all year round, the Fechlin can show spectacular spates, rising 3 metres at times. Full of brown trout, which are relatively unschooled in the art of avoiding an artificial fly, there are lies all along the river, which forms the boundary of the Dell Estate. Bank fishing is easy in many places, but short waders are advisable to get to some spots. There are some deep holes through the beautiful gorge towards the eastern end of the estate.

Loch Kemp

Our biggest loch is Loch Kemp, extending to some 70 acres. It is full of wild brown trout as well as some specimen rainbows. There is a fishing hut next to the access track, with wonderful views over the loch. A stone BBQ is also available for your use. You could spend several days on Kemp without seeing all of its hidden bays and lies. Bank fishing is possible from many places, with few overhanging trees, but fishing from one of our two boats will generally prove more productive. Many flies are successful, but a size 10 or 12 Black Pennell, Peter Ross or Zulu will usually do the trick.

Loch Paiteag

Arguably the prettiest loch on the estate (vying with Lurin, below), Paiteag is stocked with rainbow trout up to 5lb. The majority of fish are 2-3lb, and many types of small wet flies will succeed. For a greater challenge, and the possibility of a diving take, try a size 12 dry fly. There are 2 boats on Paiteag for our guests’ use.

Loch Knockie

This well-known loch can provide great sport with some specimen wild brown trout as well as hard-fighting tiddlers. We have our own access to the loch, with a boat for guests’ use.

The Lodge Lochans

These 3 small lochans near the house are stocked with some large rainbows as well as wild brownies. Very convenient for a few casts before supper or breakfast, they are within easy walking distance from Dell House or Garden Cottage.

Loch Lurin

Probably the prettiest setting on the Estate, Lurin sits in its own little glen, a perfect highland microcosm a short walk from the Lodge. Plenty of wild Brownies in here!

Lochan a Choin Uire

Just beyond Kemp and right next to the estate track, this wild lochan is full of small hard-fighting brownies. Good for a half-day expedition, and a good combination with…

The Triple Lochans

Near the western end of the estate, just off the track, these small lochans can provide easy sport with their small, keen wild brownies. Some larger fish have also been caught here. A beautiful setting in a natural green bowl in the hills. Look out for the deer grazing ‘The Greens’ here at either end of the day.

Lochan Nan Nighean, or ‘The Char Loch’

This wild, remote hill loch along the spur road past the Triple Lochans is right at the western end of the Estate. It has both wild brownies and Arctic Char. A delightful place to spend the day.

Loch Ness

Dell has nearly 4km of Loch Ness frontage, although much of it is steep and rocky and not suitable for fishing. However, it is possible to fish from the bank at several points, and the best bet is to take the track to the western end of the estate as far as you can go, and fish from there. This is also a beautiful picnic spot, ideal for a shore-side BBQ (make sure all fires are extinguished before you leave). Pike and Ferox are also regularly taken from Loch Ness, so there are several possibilities here. And, of course, always the chance of a real monster.

The best bet for salmon is to troll from a boat along the shorelines and especially near the mouth of the Moriston, opposite Dell. Loch Ness can quickly become rough and inhospitable, so take great care if the wind is getting up. More details about fishing ‘the big loch’, or taking a day on a river nearby can be had from Colin Barclay.

Shooting and Stalking At Dell

The Shoot

Dell is widely known for producing some very exciting high partridges on its driven days – it has been featured several times in ‘The Field’ and the ‘Scottish Field’ as one of the top shoots in the country. The partridges and pheasants which launch themselves from the highest crags provide a test for even the most experienced guns. ‘50 acre’, ‘High Birches’ and ‘Kinmonavie’ (or the ‘Nessie Drive’ – with the Big Loch as a backdrop) are 3 of the drives that our regular guests ask for, even though the shot ratio is usually over 8:1! There are many gentler drives, but all in really spectacular surroundings – Dell’s hallmark. We specialise in 150-300 bird days, but can usually cater for smaller days to suit your party.

Later in the season several regular parties like to walk up a mixed bag of partridge, pheasant and duck, and repair to the Bothy for a few drams and a bit of banter.

Grouse

There is a good stock of grouse on our high ground, which runs southwards towards the heart of the Monadhliaths. We usually average around 100 brace a year, and a day of 10 brace is regular if the conditions (and guns) are good. Although nothing is ever sure with this purest of sports, Colin and Scott Barclay will see to it that you seldom return empty-handed.

If you need a bit of practice first, Colin will guide you on some testing clays.

Stalking

Dell offers both really challenging hill stalking for red stags and hinds, as well as gentler low-ground stalking for reds and for sika. Colin and Scott Barclay are both qualified, expert stalkers and will lead you on a fascinating expedition, whether you get to pull the trigger or not.

We are members of the Monadhliath Deer Management Group, and we try to adhere to the culling guidelines they give us.

Our regular parties take most of our quota of red stags, but do contact us to see if there is a space. We can usually fit in hind stalking parties, and there is also usually a chance for a challenging sika in the extensive forestry plantations, or on the hills just above Loch Ness.

Newcomers to stalking will have a chance to practice first on our target range.