Chilham Lake

Chilham Lake sits near Chilham Mill and Chilham railway station in Kent, tucked between the railway embankment and the Great Stour. It’s an old gravel pit, dug back in the late 1950s, and covers roughly 26 acres according to Geograph.

• 2 lakes: Chilham Lake, Chilham Mill lake
• Fish: carp, pike, bream, tench
• Find it: Chilham · CT4 8EE

Based on how each lake is set up — not a ranking.

Chilham Lake sits near Chilham Mill and Chilham railway station in Kent, tucked between the railway embankment and the Great Stour. It’s an old gravel pit, dug back in the late 1950s, and covers roughly 26 acres according to Geograph. A separate current description of the associated Chilham Mill lake puts that water at about 27 acres, so either way, this is a proper bit of water rather than a tiny puddle.

That sort of acreage gives you plenty to think about. It’s a stillwater venue, and an old gravel pit normally means there can be changes in depth and bottom make-up to find. Don’t just chuck at the nearest margin and hope for the best. Take a bit of time to look, watch the water and work out where the fish might be moving before getting clipped up. On a new lake, a marker rod, plumbing gear and a notebook can save a fair bit of faff.

The lake is managed by Mid Kent Fisheries and is described as a syndicate fishery rather than a normal day-ticket water. That’s the key bit. Sort your access before setting off and don’t assume you can simply turn up, pay a few quid and pick a peg. The current Chilham-specific day-ticket price hasn’t been found, and the membership details listed elsewhere don’t confirm the price or whether Chilham is included, so get the latest position directly from management.

Carp are the main attraction, with mirrors and commons present, including specimen fish. Carp at the associated Chilham Mill fishery are reported to exceed 40lb, so there’s some serious lump potential in the wider picture. Pike are also present and reportedly reach around 34–35lb, while bream and tench add a bit of variety. The wider Mid Kent Fisheries portfolio includes roach, rudd, chub and barbel, although the checked details don’t confirm all of those specifically for Chilham Lake.

Details for the associated Chilham Mill fishery mention night fishing and 24-hour angling, alongside booking by email or text, a book-and-peg system, and limits around stays, rods and days per month. Those are associated-site details, so confirm exactly what applies to Chilham Lake before you pack the bivvy. Ask about current access, permitted rods, night fishing, bait rules and any local swims or areas to avoid. Bob on planning beats a long drive followed by a very expensive U-turn.

For a carp session, keep things tidy and fish with patience. Bring sensible tackle for specimen fish, plus a landing net, unhooking kit and enough spare end tackle for a proper campaign. Check the latest rules before casting, including hook and line requirements, and make sure you hold a valid Environment Agency rod licence. With the right access sorted, Chilham Lake looks like a cracking Kent stillwater for anglers who enjoy finding their own fish rather than chasing a guaranteed bag.

We're not sure on ticket prices here — we couldn't find reliable, up-to-date prices online, so give the fishery a ring or check their own site before you go.

Good background reading. Most of it is a few years old, so treat it as a starting point and ask on the day.

Videos linked by the fishery

• Our read

  Checked Sept '26 — “Chilham Lake is a sizeable Mid Kent Fisheries syndicate water near Chilham Mill and Chilham station. It’s a stillwater with specimen carp, pike and a proper mix of silver fish, but access, prices and exact rules for Chilham Lake itself need checking before you commit.”

This is our own summary of recurring public feedback and the venue details we checked, not a copied customer review or a promise you’ll catch. Feedback changes, so we keep it separate from the Tackle Index score.