The Chains, northern Exmoor, Somerset to River Exe at Exebridge · 24.6 miles
Fly Fishing on the River Barle
6 beats on the River Barle sell access by the day, from £10. 2 fisheries take bookings along it.
Where the River Barle runs
The river's course with every beat and fishery we list on it. Tap a marker for a quick read on price.
Fishing Beats on the River Barle
6 beats availableBrowse day tickets, syndicate rods, and permit fishing on the River Barle. Each beat listing includes pricing, species, and booking details.
Fisheries on the River Barle
2 fisheries availableFishery operators offering bookable fishing on the River Barle. Each listing covers tickets, accommodation, tuition, and equipment hire where available.
Clubs and syndicates on the River Barle
2 clubsMembership bodies holding water on the River Barle. Some sell day tickets alongside membership, others are open to members only, and a few run a waiting list.
About the River Barle
River Barle at a glance
- Length
- 24.6 miles
- Source
- The Chains, northern Exmoor, Somerset
- Mouth
- River Exe at Exebridge
- Tributary of
- River Exe
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Water type
- Spate
Fish species
Anglers on the River Barle can target brown trout and salmon. Brown trout dominate most beats here; grayling, sea trout, and salmon appear on certain rivers and seasons.
The River Barle rises on the Chains, the high moorland of northern Exmoor in Somerset, near Pinkery Pond, a small pool made by damming the river in the 19th century. From there it runs past Simonsbath, under the old stone bridge at Landacre near Withypool and through the prehistoric clapper bridge at Tarr Steps, then on to Dulverton. It joins the River Exe at Exebridge, on the Devon border, after about 24 miles.
The river and the Barle Valley are both Sites of Special Scientific Interest, and for much of the way the Two Moors Way footpath follows its banks.
Salmon and wild brown trout are the fish here. Every salmon running up the Barle to spawn has to pass through Dulverton, and after a spate fish move on towards the headwaters. Near the town there are big pools and broken water, where a downstream nymph or an upstream dry fly both work. Many of the trout are small, four to six inches, but there are bigger ones too. Above Tarr Steps the runs between the pools are full of boulders.
Most of the fishing is association, club and inn water, and a few day tickets are sold through a local permit scheme. Trout fishing runs from spring to the end of September. Many stretches are fly only and ask for fish to be returned, so read the rules for the water you fish.
FAQ
River Barle FAQs
Common questions about fishing the River Barle, from day tickets and seasons to what to expect on the bank.
