TROUT & SALMON MAGAZINE
Spring Gathering
Join us for a full weekend to welcome the new fly fishing season. We have an amazing line up of speakers, demonstrations and exhibitors with good food, great company and even a spot of fishing!
A WEEKEND DEDICATED TO FLY ANGLERS
Trout & Salmon Gathering
CALL 01769 580345 TO RESERVE YOUR PLACE
The Trout & Salmon Spring Gathering is now over for 2026. We have some great pictures from the event
on our Trout & Salmon Spring Gathering Gallery page. Pete has also done a great episode on the Fly Culture podcast that really captures the fun and atmosphere of the weekend.
We’ve blocked off our entire country hotel in Devon exclusively for a special weekend, 27-29 March 2026, to welcome in the new fly fishing season. Presented by Pete Tyjas and Trout & Salmon Magazine, the weekend will feature an exciting line-up of speakers, with exhibitors and demonstrations throughout the weekend. It’s an opportunity to get together with fly fishing enthusiasts and experts from across the country for a relaxed weekend of all things fly fishing.
FUN, SOCIAL, EDUCATIONAL
About the Event
Friday 27 March to Sunday 29 March 2026
Presented by Trout and Salmon Magazine and hosted at The Fox and Hounds Country Hotel in Devon, we’re delighted to announce a friendly, social and informative weekend dedicated to anglers and fly fishing, to mark the opening of the season.
Starting 3pm Friday and continuing through until 3pm on Sunday, we have a program of speakers, demonstrations and exhibitors, together with good food, drinks and great company – and even a bit of fishing!
It’s a chance to meet some new faces, make some new friends and reunite with old ones, and spend a whole weekend talking fishing. We hope you can join us!
Full details about the event can be found below, together with information about booking your Weekend Pass or Stay Package, and we’d be happy to answer any questions you may have at 01769 580 345 or by email at friends@foxguest.co.uk.
What to Expect
The event is open to both guests staying at the hotel, as well as day guests who are in the area or travelling to be with us. We’re planning on a maximum of 100 guests in total to join us for the event.
It is primarily a social weekend with the opportunity to meet up with others who share a passion for fly fishing, but over the course of the weekend we’ll have special speakers, demonstrations, including fly tying and casting clinic, as well as some exhibitors and screenings. Details of the full programme are still being finalised, but you can see what we’ve already got planned in our Programme section.
In addition to the various planned activities, our bar and restaurant are open throughout the weekend. Dining is always a highlight of our special weekends, and we have a special sit-down Event Dinner on the Friday and a less formal Buffet Dinner on Saturday. Our licensed bar and coffee bar are open throughout the event, and breakfast and lunch are available, with Carvery on Sunday. There is plenty to do for partners, family and non-anglers, and we are a very dog friendly and accessible hotel, so bring the whole family for a fun, friendly weekend away.
The River Taw runs the length of the property, and our beautiful grounds include large open spaces for casting clinics and demonstrations. We have almost 4 miles of fishing available for those who want to spend a little time on the water over the weekend.
A GATHERING TO CELEBRATE THE SEASON OPENING
Trout & Salmon Magazine
Trout & Salmon is the UK’s leading magazine dedicated to fly fishing for trout, salmon and sea trout. For over 65 years it has been the trusted voice of the sport, combining authoritative advice from expert anglers with in-depth features on rivers, tactics, flies and conservation.
Renowned for its practical, no-nonsense approach, the magazine covers everything from classic salmon beats to small-stream trout fishing, with clear guidance that appeals to both experienced anglers and those looking to deepen their knowledge.
Regular contributions from some of the most respected names in fly fishing ensure high editorial standards, while stunning photography and thoughtful commentary celebrate the landscapes, traditions and evolving future of British angling.
THE FOX AND HOUNDS COUNTRY HOTEL
Historic Fishing Venue
The Fox & Hounds has a long history with fishing, stretching back more than 100 years. Following its beginnings as a coaching inn, it became a popular fishing resort in the early 1900’s due to the easy access to The Taw and the impressive run of salmon from the period.
Situated on six acres of grounds, mid-way between Dartmoor and Exmoor, our 22-room hotel is better known by anglers today for our scrappy wild brown trout, and by guests in general for its beautiful setting, lovely wooded walks, friendly staff and great food.
We’re a popular venue for weddings and events and we are delighted to be involved with Trout & Salmon Gathering and to be involved with hosting an event so near and dear to our hearts!
SPEAKERS & CONRIBUTORS
Event Programme
Newly appointed editor, Pete Tyjas will be your host for the Trout & Salmon Magazine Gathering. We’ve been talking about the event for some time now and have lined up a great group of people to share their knowledge, experience and stories with us. Here is a short summary of some of the the speakers, demonstrators and exhibitors for the event, and the full programme is available for download:
- Pete Tyjas, editor of Trout & Salmon
- Paul Procter well known angler and writer will be doing a talk and demonstration
- Gareth Lewis fly tier and angler from Wales will be sharing fly patterns and fishing advice
- Simon Kidd from Snowbee
- Nick Measham from WildFish
- Simon Francis chair of Wild Trout Trust
- Author Colin M. Jarman
- Members from AAPGAI demonstrating and helping with casting
- Film maker and angler Jay Bartlett
- Fishing guide and competition angler Harry Chance
- Film maker Damon Valentine
- Fred Brown on streamers and FishPal
- The River Taw Fisheries Conservation telling us about the work on the Taw
RESERVE YOUR PLACE
Tickets & Stay Packages
There is a small charge for the Weekend Pass to help cover our costs and for our many contributors. For staying guests, the Weekend Pass ticket cost is included in the special Stay Package rate. For guests not staying at the hotel, ticket prices can be found in the Book Tickets section below.
For all guests, the Weekend Pass includes entrance, access to all of the activities and talks, as well as fishing. This is a family friendly event and for children under 13 the Weekend Pass is free. The Weekend Pass does not include food or drink, but there are B&B and Dinner, Bed and Breakfast rates available in the Stay Packages.
Stay Packages
If you are staying at the hotel, we have many room types from Single Rooms to Suites as well as our Luxury Treehouse, and rooms can be configured to suit many needs including twin bed, families, accessible requirements and extra people in rooms. Dogs are permitted in most rooms and one dog is included in the price of accommodation.
Our special discounted Stay Packages include accommodation and full Weekend Pass, including fishing. We have rates for both B&B and Dinner, Bed & Breakfast, starting at less than £75 per person per night (based on two people sharing a Small Double room on a Bed & Breakfast basis).
Since the hotel is block-booked for the event and a special rate is in effect, bookings can’t be made online or through our normal channels like Booking.com. Please call the hotel on 01769 580 345, or email relax@foxandhoundshotel.uk to reserve your room.
Stay Package Pricing
Stay Package pricing shown is for two nights (Friday and Saturday). Pricing is based on two people sharing a room, with the exception of Single Rooms. Rates are given for Bed and Breakfast (B&B) and for Dinner Bed & Breakfast (DBB) and include the Weekend Pass, including fishing, and one dog. Dinner Bed & Breakfast includes Friday Event Dinner and Saturday Buffet Dinner, but Sunday Carvery, if wanted, is paid separately.
Additional people (children or extra adults) have additional costs. Please see Additional People in Rooms, below.
| ROOM TYPE | SLEEPS | MAX OCC | B&B | DBB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single Room | 1 | 1 | 199 | 259 |
| Small Double | 2 | 2 | 299* | 419* |
| Standard Double | 2 | 3 | 349 | 469 |
| Superior Double | 2 | 4 | 395 | 515 |
| Eggesford Suite | 2 | 4 | 419 | 539 |
| Heywood Suite | 2 | 4 | 465 | 585 |
| Luxury Treehouse | 2A+2C | 4 | 675** | 795 |
*The Single Person Occupancy rate for a Small Double room for 2 nights is £249 for B&B and £309 for DBB.
**The Treehouse Self Catering rate is £615 for 2 nights. Prices shown are for 2 occupants. Additional children have an additional cost (see below)
Room configurations are available to suit all needs including twin beds, family rooms and suites. Many rooms have sofa beds or can accommodate additional guests on folding beds. We have accessible rooms on the ground floor, including a fully accessible room with wet room, suitable for wheelchair users. The default number of sleepers are shown, but additional guests can be accommodated up to the Maximum Occupancy shown. Please call to discuss your accommodation requirements.
ADDITIONAL PEOPLE IN ROOMS
- The price for an additional adult in a room for two nights is £99 for B&B and £159 for DBB.
- The price for an additional child (age 3 to 12) in a room for two nights is £39 for B&B and £62 for DBB (Fox Cubs menu).
- There is no charge for infants (0-2) and travel cots are available (please book a travel cot if required).
Child pricing (ages 3-12) is based on the Fox Cubs Dinner menu. If eating from the adult dinner menu, the difference will be charged. One dog is included in all rates. Additional dog(s) are charged at £14/dog per night.
Book Accommodation
To book your accommodation please call the hotel on 01769 580 345 or email relax@foxandhoundshotel.co.uk. Special discounted pricing has been created for the event and cannot be booked online or through third parties. Pricing shown is for the full event for 2 adults (except Single rooms) and includes the cost of tickets, accommodation, up to 2 dogs, breakfast (and dinner for DBB bookings).
DEPOSIT & CANCELLATION
A £50 deposit is required per room at the time of booking. This deposit is fully refundable up to 4 weeks before the start of the event. Cancellation is free (minus deposit, if less than 4 weeks before event) up to 2 weeks prior to the start of the event, after which you become responsible for the full amount of the booking. We always advise short-stay travel insurance to guard against last minute issues.
Book Weekend Pass
Guests not staying at the hotel can purchase a Weekend Pass. The cost of the pass is £25 which includes entrance, access to all talks, demonstrations, screenings and exhibitors, as well as fishing. Children under 13 are admitted free. You are very welcome to bring your dog with you, but please let us know when booking your ticket. The pass is valid from 3pm Friday to 3pm Sunday. We do not have tickets available for single or partial days.
Food and drink are not included with the Weekend Pass but day guests are welcome to join us for the Saturday Event Dinner and Friday Buffet Dinner, but these must be booked and paid separately. Breakfast, lunch and Sunday Carvery can also be booked if desired. Please see the Food and Drink section below for details.
To book your ticket(s) for the Event, please call the hotel on 01769 580 345 or email relax@foxandhoundshotel.co.uk. There is no deposit for Weekend Pass tickets and the full amount is payable at purchase, however tickets are fully refundable up to 4 weeks before the event. If you need to cancel after this, a refund can only be issued if we are able to find another purchaser for the tickets.
EVENT DINING
Food & Drink
The Heywood Restaurant at The Fox & Hounds has a reputation for great food and the evening meals are always a highlight of events here. The hotel also has a fully licensed bar and small coffee shop. We will be serving breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as coffee and bar drinks during the event. There are also several pubs and restaurants in the area, some of which can be found on our local area Food & Drinks page.
BREAKFAST
A hot and cold buffet breakfast with a wide selection including Full English (vegetarian and vegan options available) and Continental Style choices for guests staying at the hotel. Breakfast is available Saturday and Sunday mornings between 08:00 and 09:30.
LUNCH, CARVERY & CREAM TEA
Lunch will be available on for both hotel guests and day ticket holders on Saturday from 12:00 to 15:00. No reservation is required.
On Sunday, our popular carvery with vegetarian/vegan options is available from 12:00 to 14:30 . Please reserve a table using our online reservation system or by contacting the hotel. Sunday Carvery is £16.95 for adults and £8.95 for children under 13. Our normal lunch menu is not available on Sundays.
Cream Tea is also available between 12:00 and 15:00 on Friday and Saturday but needs to be pre-ordered, or ordered on arrival. Cream Tea for One is £7.50
FRIDAY EVENT DINNER
We always pull out all the stops for events like the Trout & Salmon Gathering, with the kitchen team developing a special menu just for the event. The menu will be circulated about a month before the event and pre-orders will be required to help service run smoothly. We always have good options for special dietary requirements and the wedding-style Event Dinner is a great way to start the weekend and get to know a few people.
For guests staying at the hotel on a Dinner, Bed & Breakfast basis, the Event Dinner cost is built into the price, including a small discount. For guests staying on a Bed & Breakfast basis or not staying at the hotel, there will be a limited number of places available and the cost of the dinner will be £38/person.
SATURDAY BUFFET DINNER
A less formal but no less delicious buffet dinner is held on Saturday night. It is included in Dinner Bed and Breakfast rates, with a discount, and is available to non-staying guests and those staying on a B&B basis for £28.
HOTEL AND LOCAL AREA
Additional Information
Our Hotel Portal pages provide a lot of information about the Hotel and Local Area, including fishing in the general area and fishing at the hotel, and we’ve included some of the most relevant highlights below.
Fishing
The hotel has access to nearly 4 miles of beautiful water on the Taw, including our own Home beat on the grounds. Fishing is primarily for wild brown trout perfectly suited to 3 or 4 weight rods. For those who want to fish over the weekend, we’ll have a booking system that will give everyone a chance fish for at least a couple of hours, and possibly longer, depending on demand.
Please be aware that the River Taw is a spate river and the opportunity to fish depends upon the state of the river. UPDATE: As of 25 March, the river condition is looking great, so it’s just finding the gaps in the weather, but even that isn’t looking too bad!
Information about fishing at the hotel, our beats and what to bring can be found on our Hotel Fishing page. We also have historic fishing reports and fly fishing articles for more information about flies and tactics.
Partners and Non-anglers
If you have a partner who doesn’t fish, don’t hesitate to bring them along – they can enjoy a lovely weekend break! We often have non-anglers staying who come to enjoy a relaxing get away while their partners do “fishing -things”.
In addition to the lovely grounds there are miles of local wooded walks, as well as nearby attractions and activities. The train station is a two-minute walk with regular service to Exeter and Barnstaple and there are many interesting destinations a short drive from the hotel.
Partners are welcome to attend dining events and partake as much, or as little, as they like in the other activities of the weekend. Who knows, if they discover just how much a fishing weekend can be, it could be the first step to getting them hooked!
Treehouse
If you fancy making your weekend really special, why not book our Luxury Treehouse which you may have seen featured in the September 2025 edition of Trout & Salmon magazine, the BBC’s Country File or Which? Magazine.
The Treehouse has a King Size bed in the master bedroom with ensuite and two bunks for children. It features a copper bath, wood burner, fitted kitchen including dishwasher and full wrap around deck overlooking our small lake.
Sympathetically designed in a 350 year old oak tree and a just a minute’s walk to the river, it’s the ultimate fishing break and a wonderful way to spend a weekend!
Accessibility
The Fox & Hounds is a very accessible hotel and we often have guests staying with us who use wheelchairs or mobility devices. All public areas of the hotel are accessible and the majority of the grounds, however the geography of our beats make them unsuitable for anglers with mobility concerns.
We do not have a lift to the first floor, however we do have four rooms on the ground floor, including an accessible room with wet room. More information about accessibility at the hotel can be found on our accessible page.
Dog Friendly
The Fox & Hounds is perhaps best known as being a very dog-friendly hotel, and we warmly welcome dogs at the event.
Our grounds are ideal for dogs and their owners, and we are surrounded by miles of beautiful, dog-safe, wooded walks. We are a short drive from both Dartmoor and Exmoor as well as the huge, open beaches of North Devon.
Please do be aware however that dogs are not allowed on fishing beats, with the exception of the stretch of Home beat on the hotel property.
CONNECT WITH US
Contact & Direction
If you have any questions about the event or wish to purchase tickets or book your room, please do not hesitate to call or email us.
Telephone: 01769 580 345
Email: relax@foxandhoundshotel.co.uk
Website: foxandhoundshotel.co.uk
THE FOX AND HOUNDS COUNTRY HOTEL
Eggesford
Chulmleigh, Devon
EX18 7JZ
We’re located in beautiful mid-Devon, midway between Dartmoor and Exmoor and halfway between Exeter and Barnstaple. Please see our Contact & Directions page for how to find us, including what3words.
The hotel is only a minute’s walk from the Eggesford Train station and we are less than 3 hours from Paddington Station and just over 2 hours from Bristol, so the train is a great way to get here if you don’t want to drive (but please be careful on the A377 if walking up with dogs).
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
FAQ
Our hotel fishing page includes information about our beats, equipment and flies and is a great starting point for most questions about fishing. But very briefly, for wild brown trout, a 3 to 4 weight rod with floating line, 5x/6x leader, waders, a selection of flies, and optionally a net, is all we tend to go out with!
While there are a few early mayfly around, most early season fish are caught on nymph patterns. Generally speaking, size 14 is your friend on the Taw for a lot of the year, and simple patterns like black nymphs, GRHE’s and PTNs do well. Last year, spiders in March Brown colours saw a fair amount of action as well.
Absolutely! We regularly have non-anglers stay with our angling guests and there is plenty to explore in the area. They are also welcome to join our special dining events including the Friday Event Dinner and Saturday Buffet Dinner. See our section on Partners and Non-anglers for more information and links to other activities in the area.
Yes, fishing is included for Weekend Pass holders and staying guests. It starts 7am Friday and end 7pm Sunday. You can book a 2 hour slot right away. As we get closer to the event, and everyone has had a first chance to book, you are welcome to book additional slots.
Food and drink are available, but you are more than welcome to eat elsewhere if you prefer, or just want to go for a bit of an explore in the area. We have some great suggestions for local places to eat on the Food & Drink page of our Guest Information Portal.
Only our Luxury Treehouse is Self Catering. We don’t allow other food and drink to be brought to the hotel.
It’s your weekend, and you should do whatever you want to. There is plenty to do in the area, including great fishing and walks, or you might just want to sit and chat with other attendees. We only ask that everyone is respectful of what’s happening around them, especially if there is a talk going on.
Many guests travel to us by train. We’re just a minute or two’s walk from the Eggesford train station. Please note that it is about 150m on the A377, with no pavement, so it can be a little scary, especially if you have a dog or young ones, but most people find the walk just fine. Please note however that there are no nearby shops within walking distance.
People who stay at The Fox and Hounds tend to be dog lovers and that’s particularly true of an event like this. This means people are generally more tolerant of dogs that might take a while to settle or have a little bark or growl. That said, there will be a lot of people and a lot of dogs and we want everyone to enjoy themselves.
If you’re confident your dog will settle down after the initial excitement, then everything should be fine. If however you think your dog may continue to bark for a prolonged period or might be aggressive towards others, then it might be best to leave them at home on this occasion.
The hotel is extremely dog friendly and all of our staff are dog owners or dog lovers! We try to provide everything dogs need from welcome treats at reception to a big dog biscuit and bowl in the rooms. There are dog towels at entrances, a doggy wash station outside, and we have extra dog bags, toys and even some leads in case anything has been forgotten. Unfortunately we can no longer provide dog beds, so please bring bedding for your dog.
Dogs are allowed everywhere that guests can go in the hotel and grounds. We prefer that guests keep dogs with them at all times (and the doggies prefer it too!)
Yes! We’re a super dog friendly hotel and we wouldn’t want you to be separated from a member of your family! Your dogs are allowed to go anywhere you can go in the hotel, including all dining areas.
Unfortunately the only place dogs can’t go, is on the fishing beats. There is a small section of Home Beat, on the hotel property, where your dog is allowed.