Bystock Pools are a well kept local secret, a staggeringly beautiful area a few miles North East of Exmouth, packed full of interesting wildlife.
The large lake, which looks quite natural, was built as a reservoir to serve Bystock Court and Marley House between 1879 and 1889. A pumping house pumped water from the reservoir uphill to a collecting tank which supplied both houses. There is a suggestion that the smaller pools in the area were for fish breeding.
The nature reserve is currently managed by Devon Wildlife Trust.