Meldon sits in the Okement Valley on the northern edge of Dartmoor, fifty-seven acres of clear granite-filtered water with the dramatic tors behind and a steep-sided bank that takes some getting used to. The trout average six to seven inches — small, dark, properly wild — with the occasional larger fish to surprise you when you've stopped expecting one. Bank only; the sides are steep enough that bank access is genuinely limited rather than 'limited' in the brochure sense. Bring sensible boots. There's no permit and no fee; an EA non-migratory rod licence will see you through. The reservoir's exposed position means wind is usually a factor, and on a still evening in June the trout will rise to a small dry with the deliberation of fish that don't see much pressure.

• Reservoir
• Granite