Tempsford Estate (Anchor Meadow, Pylon Meadows, The Jungle and School Meadow)

River level

The lowdown

• School Meadow gives about 400 yards of bank, sitting alongside the A1 trunk road. It’s got proper access from the end of Tempsford High Street, near the village hall.
• Anchor Meadow adds around 250 yards. Don’t try coming in from The Anchor Hotel or Vanilla Alternative — that access isn’t available.
• Pylon Meadows is the biggest of the more open sections at approximately 1,000 yards. Approved Barford Road parking can be used for both Pylon Meadows and Anchor Meadow, but it’s at the vehicle owner’s risk.
• The Jungle also runs for roughly 1,000 yards and sits alongside Barford Road. From the parking, walk directly across the farmer’s field to the river.
• Take care crossing that field. Anglers are asked to minimise damage to growing crops, so keep the route sensible and don’t go trampling about.
• There’s plenty of coarse-fish interest across the estate. The association describes the water as holding an abundance of coarse species, with roach, chub, bream, tench, dace, perch, pike, zander, carp, catfish, trout and barbel named.
• The Jungle has produced bream bags over 100lb. School Meadow has given barbel to 6lb, while double-figure barbel are known to be present across the water.
• Roach nets over 40lb have come from School Meadow, Anchor Meadow and Pylon Meadows. Carp over 25lb are well populated throughout these stretches, and chub commonly average 3–4lb, with fish over 7lb reported.
• It’s a broad membership-water option rather than a single little peg-lined pool, so pick the section to suit the day. Keep things tidy around the access points and respect the estate and farmland. Night fishing isn’t allowed anywhere on Tempsford Estate.
• We're not sure on ticket prices for this one — check with the club or local regulations before you leave.

Methods: A proper all-round coarse venue, with scope for trotting, feeder work and picking off carp, chub, barbel, bream and roach. Match the approach to the swim and conditions, with a bit of colour in the river likely to put the bigger coarse fish on the munch.

Access & tickets

The stretch is available through Biggleswade & Hitchin Angling Association membership. Applicants need to complete a membership form and questionnaire; general membership is available for 2026/27, but the current price was not exposed in the checked official webpage text.

Fish the club names

carp, tench, bream, roach, pike, perch, barbel, catfish, trout, chub, zander

Named by Biggleswade & Hitchin Angling Association across its waters, not for this stretch on its own.

Key rules

• Membership water of Biggleswade & Hitchin Angling Association.
• Night fishing is not permitted on any Tempsford Estate waters.
• Do not drive over the cattle grid into the small industrial area by School Meadow.
• Anchor Meadow has no access from The Anchor Hotel or Vanilla Alternative.
• Use approved Barford Road parking for Anchor Meadow and Pylon Meadows at the vehicle owner’s risk.
• For The Jungle, walk directly across the farmer’s field to the river.
• Minimise damage to growing crops when crossing the field.

Where it is