Blakewell Fishery & Smokehouse

A valley at Muddiford, minutes from Barnstaple town centre, fed by crystal clear spring water off Exmoor: that is the setting for a family trout farm, smokery and fishery run on the principle that if you can't do something well you shouldn't do it at all. The lake is managed for its fly hatches and hard fighting fish, which has earned it a reputation among trout anglers well beyond North Devon. One regular travels up from Cornwall.

Smoked salmon comes out of the on-site smokery and can be tasted in the Waterside Cafe. Fly fishing runs all year, sunrise to sunset, with tickets bookable online or bought on arrival. If you want to stay, there is a fully serviced campsite by the river open from 1st March to 31st October, plus two Scandinavian style cabins, Kingfisher and Mayfly, available year round. Turn off the A39 onto the B3230 towards Ilfracombe.