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Access Access to Blagdon largely depends on what you're there for - I've tried to cover the possibilities below:
2008 Season The 2008 season starts on Thursday 20 March for Blagdon - season permit holders have their additional day on Tuesday 18 March. Brown trout fishing will finish on 14th October. Any brown trout taken after October 15th should be returned to the water unharmed. Boat fishing stops on 31st October, the season ends for bank anglers on 31st November. Bank Fishing times are normally 7am til one hour after sunset for the first week of fishing and then from one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset for the rest of the season. Afternoon permits are available from 3pm onwards. Access to the lake is from four key points:
Fishermen should be aware that the perimeter road on the south side of the lake is normally only open as far as Woods Bay where a barrier prevents through access to the Top End. Likewise, there is a barrier between the Island and All Saints which prevents casual foot traffic. Fishermen intending to visit the North Shore should be aware that the perimeter track does contain a number of pot holes which may pose a hazard to cars with low ground clearance. Bank Permit Prices >
Boat fishing at Blagdon is from 10am to one hour after sunset with afternoon permits available from 1pm and 5pm. Bristol Water do ask boat fishermen to make sure that they are back at the landing stage by one hour after sunset. Use of electric boat motors is permitted but anglers are advised to use their own or hire them - there are none available at Blagdon Lodge. Boat fishermen are also advised that Bristol Water do mandate the use of life jackets. These are available for daily issue at no charge from Blagdon Lodge.
As far a general Public access is concerned, the South side of the lake is only accessible to permit holders - there is no general public access to this side of the lake.
People using the Butcombe footpath should be aware of the potential hazard from the length of back-cast from anglers fishing from the Butcombe stones - lines can reach back as far as 30 yards. There is a nature trail in the grounds of the visitor centre. This is open to the public on the days when the centre is open. Regardless of your reason for being at Blagdon, please be aware that there have been a number of thefts from cars over the years. Police awareness notices are posted around the most popular parking places (particularly around Cheddar Water and the Bywash end of the Dam) which contain advice concerning car security. |
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Boat
Birdwatchers
must be permit holders. Bird watching permits will only be issued to
members of recognised bodies such as the RSPB, English Nature and the
Wildfowl & Wetlands trust - for more information please contact Woodford
Lodge. The are hides at Home Bay Point and at Top End.
There
is a public footpath that runs up the side of Butcombe Bay from the
Bywash as far as the second footbridge at the head of the Bay. Thereafter
the footpath splits back towards Aldwick in the West and along the outer
edge of All Saints wood to the East. There is no public access to All
Saints meadow on the Eastern side of the head of the Bay - access here
is for permit holders only. Click here for more information on