[Mike Barrio]

A day exploring new waters is always good fun    but how do you find and choose somewhere to fish?

Not club or association waters, but something a bit more off the beaten track.

What helps to make finding and choosing somewhere easier? ( Fishing buddies, social media posts, magazines, online permit availability? )

And what helps to make the day more enjoyable once you get there?  ( Clear beat maps, off road parking, bank maintenance? )

[Robert MacDonald-Lewis]

I typically use all the sources mentioned, fishing buddies being the most reliable. Would also add Bruce's Rivers and Lochs book, mainly for lochs and taken with the appropriate seasoning.

It is always good to get a good clear beat map, marking parking places. Decent parking also makes a bing difference. I often find it a little surprising how lacking both can be. There is perhaps little that can be done about parking, but with the availability of free satellite  images and OS map views it shouldn't be too difficult to put togther usefull beat maps.

I came across some youtube videos of walk throughs of some river beats which were great for getting an idea for the lay of the land and what to expect.

[Mike Barrio]

Good thoughts Robert 

It will be interesting to see what others consider useful.

[Hamish Young]

What helps to make finding and choosing somewhere easier? ( Fishing buddies, social media posts, magazines, online permit availability? )

A heady combination of all the above, with the addition of curiosity - the unknown is always appealing.
Very often these days, I have a technique or tackle that I particularly want to use and will tailor a day to match the tackle - which often makes choosing the water to fish straightforward.

And what helps to make the day more enjoyable once you get there?  ( Clear beat maps, off road parking, bank maintenance? )

Depends. These days, since the spread of my 'wading ballast' I do like to have the car parking nearby to the fishing. When paying higher amounts for a days fishing, where beats are managed more actively, then I expect the paths to be clear and well kept. Bank maintenance isn't a huge thing for me unless I'm fishing Salmon beats where  well-maintained banks are kind of expected/necessary - not expecting a garden, but I do expect some work to have been done.
Beat maps are handy, signs by pools even better.

[Mike Barrio]

Yes, a little bank maintenance is always appreciated 

I like things to be natural, and waist high growth is fine, but when it gets to shoulder height and above it can start to become a bit tedious.

[Kevin McPherson]

Starting to Venture a bit further afield onto different waters Spey / Dee this year and plans for up north in 2025