The River South Esk, together with the North Esk, are two of the most prolific and attractive salmon and sea trout rivers in Scotland. Both flow into the sea near Montrose. The South Esk is best known for its sea trout. The Inshewan Fishings beat is, without doubt, one of the most picturesque, varied and prolific beats on the South Esk. It stretches from the Shielhill Bridge four miles East of Kirriemuir and meanders downstream for two and a half miles to the dam at Craigeassie. The beat naturally divides itself into two with the Esk Pool marking the mid point. If the river is shared between two independent parties the changeover time is at 1 pm. 

The two top pools, The Big Stone and The Lushet, may be let separately between June and September but are usually included in the Beat. When all the pools are available the beat is let for five rods but when the top pools are not available the beat is a four rod beat.

Below the Lushet the river tumbles down to the Red Stream, a long pool which carries the fly well and fishes best with a bit of water. (18 inches has always seemed to be about the optimum height of water as measured on the gauge at the garden Pool). This gives way to The Blue Rock (or Stone) a great holding pool much improved in recent years by the creation of  new croys at its tail and thus creating a new pool – the Two Croys. Downstream and round the corner is the Wood stream, a “fishy” pool if ever there was one, and below this the Bothy and so down to The Esk - one of the best pools on the beat and a favourite for night sea trout fishing. This point marks the bottom of the upper beat.

From hereon down and for about a mile the fisherman must walk; but the walk is most rewarding and will take him through the most picturesque gorge amongst ancient beech woods and past some exciting pools the first of which is the Auchleuchrie below which is the unromantically named Pipeline pools created in the 1960s when North Sea Gas pipes crossed the Estate.

From hereon down the river tumbles through the sandstone gorge through the Lang Stream an exciting place for the fisherman, using a single handed rod, to cast a fly with a good chance of hooking a sea trout or grilse – and then the fun is really on! At the end of this long pool the river quietens down and ends abruptly in a very deep quiet pool, The Castle Hill, where the river narrows to a width of only a very few feet  but where in its depths the salmon and sea trout can safely hide – sometimes in very large numbers. The pool is dominated by the site of an ancient castle surrounded by a dry moat. As the stream glides out of the tail there is a famous lie guaranteed to hold fish. The fish can be seen from the path high above but they can only be reached from below with a long cast.

Below the Castle Hill is the Ministers Stream – a good sea trout run best fished in the evening. This leads through the Dardanelles (well named) and into the Garden Pool where the sea trout can lie in large numbers especially in low water. This pool is a favourite for the night fisherman. Below this famous pool there is a most attractive fast run known as the "Back of the Island" – an almost sure bet for a pull from a sea trout from mid June onwards. This leads into Cameron’s Run, another new pool created by the clever placing of some large river stones and so on down to the House Pool where the new (2006) comfortable Fishing Hut is sited.

Below the House Pool there is an awkward pool – The Cairney - seldom fished as it is only approachable from the far bank; Even so it holds good fish as it is well worth the effort of wading across at the tail of the House Pool. This leads down to Strachans, a deep hole where both salmon and sea trout congregate throughout the season. Strachans levels out into a quiet run much favoured by sea trout. On the corner below this is a dead elm tree which marks the top of the Boat Pool, another under-fished pool. At the bottom of the Boat Pool there is one of the most magical and mysterious pools on the river, The Bottom Croy where a whole night can be spent during the sea trout season but which is always worth a cast at any height of water at any time. Finally, at the bottom of the beat is the Dam Pool which has altered considerably in recent years as winter spates  damaged the Craigeassie Dam. The changes are, on the whole, for the better and the long deep run under the far bank has become a favourite spot for the fish to rest after crossing the dam.

Besides the river itself Inshewan is a treasure trove for botanists and bird watchers. Kingfishers are often seen as are otters. The river bank is ungrazed and is a mass of wild flowers. Finally a word about dogs: tenants may bring their   well behaved dogs  provided they are always on the river side of the deer fence and are kept under control especially in the spring when ground-nesting game birds and young ducklings are vulnerable.