A prime beat on the Wye is to be auctioned next month. Upper Ballingham (above) comprises 1,200 yards of the right bank and 650 years of the left bank. Included is a substantial hut (right).

Pools include Sheepwash, Crib, Greenbank, Hancocks Stream, Oaktree and Craydens. 12.5 acres of adjacent land are to be sold as a separate lot.

In recent years the Wye has seen declining runs of salmon, and indeed there are no recent catch records available for Upper Ballingham. The last 'good' season was in 1998 when 46 salmon were caught. The largest salmon caught on the Wye was 59lb 8oz landed after a long fight by Miss Doreen Davey from the Cowpond Pool at Ballingham. That was in March 1923.

The auction takes place on March 22 at the Green Dragon Hotel, Broad Street, Hereford. The guide price for the land is £100,000, with the fishing being £120,000.

Further details are available from David Thompson of Sunderlands and Thompsons on 014432 356161 (www.st-hereford.co.uk).