Bibury Trout Farm

Bibury Trout Farm is set in the idyllic Cotswold village of Bibury, just on the edge of Gloucestershire and an easy drive from Cirencester.  It’s the oldest working trout farm and a unique place to visit for a family day out.

There are a number of large ponds with trout of different sizes and all set with winding pathways which ideal for pushchairs, grasses and leafy trees.

Feed the Fish at Bibury Trout Farm

We love to feed the ducks at our local play park but feeding the fish goes way and beyond.  You can buy fish food pellets when you arrive and the trout get very excited with you throw it in with plenty of splashing.

There’s also a small children’s play area with climbing frame and old tractor to sit on which was perfect for my 4 year old.

Catch Your Own at Bibury Trout Farm

However, the highlight for my boys was being able to catch their own trout.  There are two types, the rainbow trout and the native brown trout.  The Catch Your Own fish experience is extra and you then need to pay be weight for the fish that you catch.

After watching a short video on what to do, you collect your rod, net and some softened fish pellets.  The rods have a fixed line (I don’t really know all the techy terms) but it means you don’t need to swing it out, just dip the hook into the water.  The experience is over pretty quickly as there are lots of trout.

There are two areas you can catch fish from.  One is beautiful, peaceful little spot with platforms that reach into the water to stand on.  Alternatively, if you’re a bit squeamish about knocking the trout on the head with the wooden stick (it’s provided too) then there’s a little island and staff on hand to help you.  We opted for this as it was our first time and we wanted to make sure it was done as quickly as possible.

Don’t fancy gutting your fish?  After weighing and paying for your fish, you can pay an extra 50p to have it gutted for you.

We had our trout for dinner that night and it was absolutely delicious.  We just wrapped it in tinfoil and baked in the oven with a little white wine and bunch of herbs.  My usually fussy eating kids also wolfed it down, all excited as they had caught the fish so it was a win win.

Next time, we’ll take advantage of the numerous BBQs around Bibury Trout Farm.  You can bring other food with you and we saw lots of families cooking and eating together outside in the sunshine.  You couldn’t get much fresher or with lower food miles than that!

I’m not sure if it’s now a permanent fixture or not but there is also a mini crazy golf course (extra charge) next to their little cafe hut and BBQ area so you could relax over lunch while the kids have extra activities.

Bibury Trout Farm also has a cafe at the entrance which you can visit separately if you’re in the area but not planning to do the full trout farm experience.

Bibury Trout Farm Parking

There’s no car park so you’ll need to park in Bibury itself.  William Morris  described Bibury as “the most beautiful village in England” and it attracts tourists from all over the world so does get busy.  There are a few spots opposite Bibury Trout Farm or you may need to take a drive around and find on street parking a little further away.  We managed to get parked on the road close to the church and then it was about a 5-10 minute walk.

Bibury Trout Farm Prices

Our trip out quickly added up with the entry fee, fish food and paying for the fish we caught.  I did check the prices of of trout in the supermarket when I got home and it was much cheaper from the farm to buy and of course super fresh too.

Prices August 2021 (check their website for updates)