Country flags for UK, Spain, Germany, France, China and Italy Speedy Booker Partner Sites

Headinch and Cambus O'May

Fishery
4.7 4
BACK
1/14
CLOSE
sign
sign
sign
2/14
CLOSE
tass
tass
tass
3/14
CLOSE
long pool
long pool
long pool
4/14
CLOSE
long
long
long
5/14
CLOSE
clarach
clarach
clarach
6/14
CLOSE
clarach hut
clarach hut
clarach hut
7/14
CLOSE
tassachd
tassachd
tassachd
8/14
CLOSE
long hut
long hut
long hut
9/14
CLOSE
little glashan
little glashan
little glashan
10/14
CLOSE
bridge
bridge
bridge
11/14
CLOSE
sheerless
sheerless
sheerless
12/14
CLOSE
sheerless
sheerless
sheerless
13/14
CLOSE
mill
mill
mill
14/14
CLOSE
sheerless
sheerless
sheerless

Find fishing

When

on:

Please select dates to view availability for this location

Overview

Headinch and Cambus O’May is an attractive and well maintained beat on the river Dee, mid- way between Dinnet and Ballater and set amongst a backdrop of the Cairngorm Mountains.

With 21 named pools, the beat provides opportunities to catch fish at varying heights of water. 2.5 miles of the beat is double banked with a further ¾ of a mile of single bank fishing at the top end.

There are 5 huts servicing the beat, with four modern huts benefiting from wood burning stoves and outdoor seating which are ideal for picnics. There is an eco-friendly WC on either side of the river.

Fishing at Cambus is a relaxing and enjoyable experience and ghillie Craig McDonald will welcome you to the beat and show you where to fish, advise on choice of line and fly and happy to provide other assistance as required. Fishing is his lifelong interest. As part of his degree from Edinburgh University he wrote a dissertation on the habitat and ecosystem of the Dee and its salmon population. He enjoys teaching casting techniques and has completed the Scottish Game Angling Instructors Certificate. Craig has been a ghillie on the Cambus beat since 2013.

The pools you fish will be dependent upon the height of water. As a general rule, there is more fishing from the left bank in high water and more fishing from the right bank in low water. Long Pool and Peter Ogg / Hollybush are examples of pools which fish well when the river is high, Sheerless and Tassachd when at normal levels and Glashan, Clarach and Fergies in low water. The beat has some iconic pools such as Tassachd (mentioned in John Ashley Coopers book), Clarach, a lovely fly fishing pool and Glashan, one of the prettiest pools on the Dee.

The beat is fished by up to 4 rods from 1st March to 30th June and 3 rods from July to September. Only fly fishing is allowed (no spinning). In accordance with The River Dee Conservation Code there is a policy of catch and release for both salmon and sea trout. Handling of fish should always be kept to a minimum to avoid damage and distress.


Why you need to fish here

With 21 named pools, the beat provides opportunities to catch fish at varying heights of water. 2.5 miles of the beat is double banked with a further ¾ of a mile of single bank fishing at the top end.

Banks
3m
Max rods/permits
4
Ghillies
1
5 year average
62.4

Catches

Atlantic salmon

Last 7 days: 0 (Largest: 0lbs)
'20 '21 '22 '23 '24 Avg '25
Jan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Feb 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Mar 0 0 3 1 2 1.2 0
Apr 0 10 11 5 6 6.4 3
May 3 21 14 6 12 11.2 0
Jun 16 31 5 1 18 14.2 1
Jul 9 4 9 3 3 5.6 0
Aug 7 12 16 5 10 10 0
Sep 11 15 28 9 6 13.8 0
Oct 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Nov 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Dec 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 46 93 86 30 57 62.4 4

Sea trout

Last 7 days: 0 (Largest: 0lbs)
'20 '21 '22 '23 '24 Avg '25
Jan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Feb 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Mar 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Apr 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
May 2 4 4 2 6 3.6 2
Jun 6 17 17 5 11 11.2 8
Jul 7 3 3 15 2 6 1
Aug 4 3 3 6 4 4 0
Sep 1 3 10 7 0 4.2 0
Oct 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Nov 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Dec 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 20 30 37 35 23 29 11

Reviews

4.7
Based on 4 reviews
Description
4.5
Banks
4.5
Hut
4.8
Ghillie customer service
5.0
Ghillie knowledge / advice
5.0
Value for money
4.5
★★★★★
4
★★★★
0
★★★
0
★★
0
0

Facilities & information

Facilities

W.C.

Hut

Fish

Sea trout

Atlantic salmon

Arrival information & directions

Address: Burnett House, Burn O'Bennie Road, Banchory, DeeAB31 5ZU, United Kingdom

Burnett House Banchory Burn O'Bennie Road AB31 5ZU

View others nearby

View others nearby