Devon Days and Damsel Flies: A Caravan Escape to Blakewell

Stuart Taylor
Jun 24
3 min read

Updated: Jun 25

Tucked away in the peaceful valley of Muddiford near Barnstaple, Blakewell Fisheries proved to be the perfect setting for a fly-fishing getaway—and thanks to their newly established campsite, we were able to make the most of our time on and off the water.

We stayed in our caravan for four nights, which allowed us to fish flexibly around the changing Devon weather. Our late arrival on the Thursday evening was no problem at all, we were sent the gate code via text message and were free to choose a pitch. The setup was ideal: comfortable pitches with ample water stands and electric hook-ups, beautiful surroundings alongside the crystal clear Bradiford Water, straight off Exmoor, and only a short stroll to the water’s edge.

The Weather

It was a mixed weekend for weather, mainly sunshine and showers throughout the days, with more consistent rain during the evening.

We fished in sessions throughout the weekend, both morning and late afternoon, with mainly cloud cover and occasional sun breaking through. The temperature was consistent at around 20-21 degrees. The water temperature was 13 degrees.

The Fishing

Over the course of the weekend, we landed seven pristine rainbow trout, each one a hard-fighting, beautifully conditioned fin-perfect fish. The quality of the stock at Blakewell stood out—strong, clean, and full of energy.

We had the most success fishing with:

Damsel fly nymphs — especially productive beneath the surface during overcast spells.
Dry damsels - offered some thrilling topwater takes when the sun poked through.

The action was consistent, and the sport was top-tier. Whether casting along the margins or targeting cruising fish mid-lake, there was always something happening.

There was a fair bit of weed on the lake, which did not cause any issues with the fishing at all; in fact, we could see the fish were using the weed sections for cover, which allowed us to target specific fish and areas. Dropping a buzzer in front of the weed and watching the trout hit it hard as it drops was great sport.

Fish Tally - Stuart-5

Tania - 2

Tackle Used

Stuart gave his 50th birthday present a good run out this weekend, the Orvis 9ft 6# Recon rod (an upgrade from his Orvis Clearwater rod) paired with a Cobra multiplier reel. Another new addition to Stuart's tackle is the floating, shooting head fly line from Sunray.

"This new fly line was a dream to cast, perfectly straight casts with the most delicate presentation. This line is allowing me to cast further and more accurately than I have before. This allowed me to have a great session on the dry fly."

Tania is very new to fly fishing and this is only her 3rd outing with the rod. We purchased a 9ft 5# Wychwood complete outfit from the British Fly Fair back in February. It has been a good outfit for Tania to pick up the basics and methods; however, we feel the rod action does not suit her, we will be looking for her first upgrade in the coming weeks....... Watch this space.

The Hosts

A special mention must go to Richard and John, the brothers who run Blakewell. Their knowledge, friendliness, and passion for the fishery were clear from the moment we arrived.

Arriving late on the Thursday evening was no bother at all. We received the gate code via text message and were greeted by Richard, who has created not just a great fishing destination but a welcoming place that feels like home for any angler.

The Local Area

On our arrival, Richard gave us details for the nearest pub, The Muddiford Inn. We visited this pub on Friday afternoon and enjoyed a real ale in the garden. The ale of choice was Timothy Taylor - Landlord, a lovely real ale, it was clear that it was being well kept by the staff.

We returned on the Sunday for a traditional roast lunch, Stuart had the pork and Tanis had the beef, both meals were delicious, very tasty well well-cooked and great value.

Final Thoughts

This trip reminded us how rewarding it is to match your fishing to the rhythm of the weather and the landscape. Having the caravan parked on-site gave us the freedom to rest when needed and fish when conditions were right—something we’ll be doing again.

If you're looking for a peaceful, well-managed trout fishery with the bonus of on-site camping, Blakewell is a gem in North Devon’s crown.