Blakewell in North Devon

Wonderful place to stay in a beautiful setting. Richard and John were both lovely genuine people, we had a fantastic time learning to fly fish with Richard. The accommodation was excellent. Look forward to our next visit!

I have been visiting the Bakewell farm for over 25 years. It was great to be able to get a fresh trout, yesterday. It is a wonderful place for fly fishing or just buying a trout for supper.

I have been trout fishing at Blakewell for many years. We stopped in the kingfisher lodge in-between Christmas and the new-year the lake was completely weed free all the fish were 3lb plus,excellent fishing. We have re booked the lodge for May/ June highly recommended.

Great days fishing. Caught my bag and had a great time. Really helpful staff. Weeds have been cleared

Wonderful morning in the rain and sun . Richard and team and blakewell exceptional as always

Rich is an amazing patient teacher who really knows his stuff, and how to teach that

We booked a three hour fly fishing tutorial which we were meant to have last year. When we arrived we were waiting about and when Richard the owner finally came out he admitted that he had completely forgotten about our booking and that it was his wife’s birthday party that day and therefore he wouldn’t be teaching us, we were very accommodating and said that we understood that these things can sometimes happen, so we rebooked. I live quite a distance away so I rebooked it when I was next in Devon, when we turned up the second time this weekend again we were waiting around for half an hour until Richard came out and said gruffly that he had text me and told me he had to cancel it because he was driving his son to Leeds university. Needless to say as I never gave him my mobile number this seemed unlikely. Eventually after arguing that he had text me he realised he had sent it to someone completely else. So I have now wasted many hours driving and have twice had my booking double booked and disregarded because of the owners other commitments. Richards incompetence to use email, a calendar and a mobile phone is only matched by his self righteous attitude when telling me I’m in the wrong because he’s text someone randomly. If you don’t want to go fishing and enjoy repeated disappointment this could be the ideal spot for you! Awful.

Cracking fishery!... it is weedy, but the management do not make a secret of that and I enjoyed the challenge it presented. I had no problem getting takes from the many fish in the lake, but due to my own ineptitude, I did not convert many of them. I did, however, manage to catch my quota within 3hrs of arriving. Richard, who I dealt with both on the phone and at the fishery, was an absolute pleasure! Very helpful indeed! I look forward to visiting again when I am back in the area.

I love it here. So tranquil, and the fish are in great numbers. My favourite place to fish.

It's a scam they know you can't fish the pond due to all the weeds still charged me £125 for 3 of us to stand there picking weeds off our hooks don't go there much better places around.

Absolutely loved it here. We stayed at Mayfly Cabin, the owners were so friendly and helpful, with great recommendations on where to eat and nice beaches in the area. We were able to buy smoked salmon which was a lovely treat for breakfast. Such a beautiful place to unwind. Exactly what we needed.

Great spot for fishing good fighting trout.

Fantastic fishery and great knowlegable staff , love fishing here .

Wonderful trout farm with pools teaming with rainbows at the entrance, a very well stocked lake of mega keen trout that go for anything from nymphs to streamers. Only down side i have is the sheer amount of weed that has taken over half the lake, real shame as you spend most of the day picking your fly's clean of balls of stringy pond weed 😩 also the shop is no longer there and the cafe didnt seem to be open either which was slightly annoying as we didn't bring any food with us knowing there was a cafe there. Still managed 2 fish and lost a 3rd in the time I was there, plenty of follows and strikes 👍

Needed a trout for a BBQ told them about the size I wanted and one was caught, dispatched, gutted and bagged. All ready for this evenings BBQ, can't get fresher than that.

Miss there cafe as was nice place to relax and watch the trout before buying some for tea

Probably the most relaxing place in North Devon... just stunning and friendly..

What a smashing place I could have spent all day there.

Always a fabulous days fishing at this place. Great breakfast served too by the very friendly staff. My favorite place to come summer time and winter times too. Fish always in great fighting spirit. Will be nice to come back this summer after a long winter of illness.

Just got my Christmas tree here. Was able to choose it and watch it being felled. The most beautiful tree and great friendly service. Highly recommend

Spent a morning at Blakewell and had a fantastic fishing experience. The lake is in superb condition, full of fish and had I some great sport. Members of staff were very helpful and I can not wait to visit again! Steven Down

No stars, I've have fly fish for 35 years and never been to a place with more dead fish than live ones, the water was like mud, I have never left in disused before in my life, I will never fish there again

Very good value for money,and all fish caught were in very good condition.A very nice place to visit.

Fantastic days fishing will be going back very soon! Water was very clear considering the wind and rain. Some big fish about! If your looking for a nice chilled and relaxing days fishing then go nowhere else with the amble amount of benches dotted around you can always rest and have lunch very easy fishing with hardly any backdrop behind you to worry about in some places.

14lb lump today and bagged up, awesome day

Lovely little place. Great pot of tea and hot chocolate and the owner was very friendly and helpful.

Lovely place definately worth a visit especially if the weather is good.unfortunately cafe was closed when we called in but they still managed to serve good coffee and yummi apple cake! Thank you. Will definately be back.

Hi just to say thanks to Richard and Pat very helpful and beautiful well run fishery.

Great place to cast a fly and run by proper people

Great for the grandchildren to feed the fish and walk around.

A great place to unwind away from it all. Walk around the lakes in this lovely setting and enjoy an excellent coffee with cake.

It's an amazing place to visit and fish - you'll have fun catching your first ever fish - cafe is great too - highly recommend if you are in the local area :)

Beautiful scenery for a chilled Sunday afternoon.

Never been so bovered by persistent wasp completely ruined our cream tea experience. Scones also tasted a bit soapy unfortunately

We were fortunate enough to win a cream tea for two at the Waterside Cafe. And what a cream tea it was. Big scones to die for, lashings of cream and jam (cream first, this is Devon after all) and a good pot of tea, complete with tea cosy.Can’t comment on other meals, but did have a quick look at the lunch menu. Mostly fish based, but then this is a trout fishery. Prices looked very reasonable.The setting for the cafe is beautiful, right on the side of one of the trout ponds. We sat outside, it was a lovely late summer day and the fish were jumping.I did buy some smoked trout fillets from the shop. They were delicious. Unfortunately they had sold out of pate.Never mind, we plan on going back, sometime very soon. Highly recommended.

A very fun little lake, well stocked with rainbows of fairly decent size. There is enough here to test your casting and placement for a half day at least. The cafe is very pleasant and serves decent grub whilst you can find all you need (like those extra flies you always seem to need) in the small shop.

What a fun place to have a cream tea, you can watch kids and adults having great fun fishing in the small fish ponds. You take ho.e what you catch, I thoroughly recommend a visit if you're passing. Staff really friendly and welcoming, go and have fun.

Fantastique lieu magnifique et magique Tout le monde adorable

We had a great evening with John learning how to cast. Such a nice relaxed atmosphere. Can’t recommend enough. Thanks again guys. We’ll definitely be back.

Lovely time again, good bag of fish ready for bbq.

Lovely, relaxing riverside cafe

Excellent experience for three kids. All the family loved it

A couple of hours spent with a very happy child, caught three lovely trout for tea, my son had a fabulous time living his dream catching fish and bringing home food for the family. Stayed for some lunch which was also fantastic. The whole experience was aided by very helpful friendly staff. A day for the memory book for my boy. He caught the fishing bug, hook, line and sinker.

Nice place to visit have tea and refreshments. Fish and catch your own meal.

A wonderful place, great value for money, kids loved catching there 1st rainbow trout on fly. Staff really helpful great bunch.

Peaceful setting. A hidden gem

Second visit here and just as enjoyable. 2yr old loved feeding the fish and I loved eating gluten free cream tea 😁

Had a lovely lunch of Smoked Salmon & Smoked Mackerel on Bagels, in a great outdoor setting, overlooking well stocked fish pools & flower beds. You can try catching your own trout, if you're into that

Very weedy, only one or two swims are fishable at the moment. Warm weather hasn’t stopped the fish feeding though and still caught a 5-fish limit. Fish flesh was very pale, not the tastiest.

Beautiful setting, no entry fee. Cafe a bit slow, but lovely place to sit and relax.

My dad broke about 50 fish hooks but apart from that the place was fantastic 10 out of 10 would come again.

We all (12) enjoyed a great days fishing & were made welcome.

Glorious days fishing. Very helpful!

We found this hidden gem and had a really lovely afternoon. Decent fishing for grown-ups and a great first fish for our young children! Also a delightful cream tea. Staff were so friendly and helpful and made sure we went away with some trout, which were delicious on the BBQ! Thanks.

If you love fishing and nature you have to go there!

Very nice place to have a day out with family..

Offers a great fishing experience in picturesque surroundings. The staff were very helpful and take time to explain the process. Fishing rods and fish food available on hire. Any caught fish cut and cleaned ready to cook. Has a small shop offering scones, tea, coffee and beers.

Kids loved it. Something a bit different for a morning out.

Excellent fishing and facilities. The setting is first class.

What a hidden gem this is! What an amazing place. Wonderful helpful staff. Amazing food and such a beautiful setting. Staff went above and beyond to help us. Can not find a single fault!

It was a fantastic opportunity to learn how to fly fish. The staff were very helpful and very patient. We caught 3 large rainbow trout, Me. James and Charlie 1 each. I will be back in may.

Great fishery! Beautiful grounds! Wonderful people!

Plenty of fish too small for what it cost very disappointed

had a wonderful morning here ...took home 7 beautiful trout

Very fascinating place good for all ages

Lovely day out! Caught 3 fish. Defiantly recommend!

Love it here,great fishing ,lovely people, gorgeous setting.

Beautifully landscaped area with many fish ponds. Popular with those keen on fishing. Hire of rods available. Cafe with delicious cake and coffee. Really friendly and welcoming. Looking forward to my next visit in the spring

I went in for cream tea by the lake where people were fishing. Mother and 8 yr old son caught a fish and she wrapped the poor animal with a cloth and asked boy to hit it with a stick. When he couldn’t kill it after quite a few hits she put it on the floor and hit it so many times. I saw it gasping for air. She carried on hitting it with this short stick. I couldn’t stand anymore and told them it would have been beter for the animal to be left in the bucket to die on his own and walked out. I know they hire fishing equipment to make money but no one could be that greedy to just supply without caring them what the customers are doing to animals. Any body with a tiny bit of care for the animals should boycott this despicable place. You have no compassion for animals, are only money oriented bottom feeders. Every animal lover should boycott you. It was the worst animal cruelty l have ever witnessed and you deserve to be reported to the RSPCA, that’s exactly what l will do. I donot know if l could get any result as people like you are well protected by other cruel so on so’s.

Fish tasted nice . It's self service basically untill gutting and payment due by expect help can get quite busy

Went today. Unfortunately very very weedy. Wish they had updated their website then wouldn't have travelled so far. Usually very good and they gladly refunded ticket. Look forward to next year good place to fish.

we went there for the fishing, but the lake was so full of weed that the two people we met there had given up because of the weed, so we decided not to bother. the gardens however were quite pretty

We were looking for somewhere local to Muddiford to go for a couple of hours. We started with a wander around the lakes and then went in for a sandwich and cream tea. The sandwiches were excellent with lovely granary bread. Scones were exceptional; so fresh and served with jam with fresh strawberries on top. Would definitely recommend a visit here.

Really lovely place. Great for kids. Staff nice and gorgeous cafe seating area. 😊

Very hard fishing to much weed and water coloured

Lovely place, only stopped here for a coffee and a walk around with the dog but my gosh it was worth it! Lovely scenery and lovely staff on hand too :)

Delightful setting beside pond and views of hills. Pleasant service with a smile. Good tasty fayre, freshly made Reasonable price Tranquil and pleasant

A fantastic place to take the kids. The small fishing lakes and surrounding Gardens are stunning and it almost feels a bit like you are in Thailand! the kids managed to catch two trout which were gutted for us so that we can cook them for supper. The cafe was excellent with delicious homemade treats. Well worth a visit.

Friendly staff, a great place to take your kids fishing, be ready to catch and dispatch, cook and eat thier catches!

Ok,nice setting,call me greedy,but if you pay nearly £8 for a ham sandwich then I would expect more than one slice of tasteless,paper thin,supermarket packet ham!

Trying to be something they're not and failing. Grounds not well kept and safety around pond very poor. Also, very expensive when you add in the cost of using the rods and buying the caught fish. The cafe, although clean, was not well run. I ordered 2 hot drinks which took 15 minutes to prepare and they were only warm... so slow and disorganised... I would not go again.. or recommend it to my friends

Disappointing visit to the fishery. I have fished there before and found it well stocked with good quality trout and the lake to have been in good condition. 20 July 2018 the lake is nearly unfishable as completely full of weed. Every swim all around the lake the Canadian pond weed has totally consumed the water. A few fish were still caught but nothing of quality. Have a good look round the lake before buying a day ticket, if still full of weed, save your money!

Lovely relaxing place. Very friendly staff and we will be eating fish for the next month 👍

Well stocked shop & lake, brilliant Fishing for quality trout, would recommend you try the smoked trout pate in the cafe, delicious.

Fantastic family and dog friendly place. Great setting. Lovely cafe Friendly family run business. Would go again and again.

Absolutely lovely place. Great for disabled too. Thanks.

Great fishery. Richard and John, the owners, are very friendly and helpful. The fish are always in good nick and fight like hell! The full English breakfast is really good as well!!! Best small water I know! Mark Johnson

It has everything. Tranquility. good good... oh and fishing ☺

Kids had a fab morning. Caught a ridiculous number of fish. Problem was we didn't want to keep them all. Not a cheap morning when you go home with 7 fish at £35 but great fun was had by all. They demonstrated how to humanely kill the fish once caught, and happily gutted them for us. Beautiful surroundings too, and very helpful friendly staff who recommended several places locally to visit and where to eat. Note. You cannot use your own fishing rods so be prepared to pay for the rods as that is their policy.

Well stocked lake. Fish in good condition. Small pond for kids to catch trout. My grandkids loved it.

Took my daughter for a spot of fishing today and she loved it so much she's already asked to go again. We decided to have some food from the Riverside cafe on site and wow without doubt the best cream tea I've ever had a big Thankyou to Richard, John and the ladies in the cafe for great service. Will definitely be back very soon

A lovely stroll around the lakes and ponds post tea at your cafe, this in wonderful surroundings spoilt only by the sight of a dying fish and a number dead and decaying fish in most of your lakes! Surely removing thes dead fish promptly would enhance the health of the main stock and provide a better experience for your visitors?

Only went for a coffee and a look around nice polite staff going to book a lesson next time down here

Dog friendly patio overlooking fish ponds absolutely well stocked with trout at various ages. Food and drink very nice

Very enjoyable lunch and feeding the fish will go again

Another brilliant day. Good fishing, good facilities and friendly service.

Brilliant John and Richard and family are all great

We stopped to visit the tea shop, enjoying tea and amazing cake!

Had a brilliant days fishing here - excellent facilities with the café area serving lovely food and drink at reasonable prices. Great welcome by the staff with a knowledgeable brief about best flies etc. Went home with 2 nice trout :-) Will certainly be visiting again.

Had a cake and pot of tea it was raining but had a walk saw all the fish being fed and caught beautiful place and you can catch supper.