WEST Devon rivers and Dartmoor are to be featured in a popular US TV documentary series.

Richard Weise — the US equivalent of Bear Grylls — was last week filming on the River Lyd at fhe Arundell Arms.

The filming will form part of two hour long programmes on prime time US television on the ABC network as part of the 'Born to Explore' series. It is due to air in the US in May and also be transmitted on the National Geographic channel.

Richard, a keen fly fisherman as well as avid explorer and adventurer, was shown the river by one of the hotel's fishing instructors, Tim Smith.

The TV crew based themselves at the Arundell Arms. In addition to the fishing, they also recorded Okehampton-based musicians Wren Music at the hotel before going on to Bodmin Moor to film wild deer.

Richard Weise said: 'This is a beautiful and magical place. You have wonderful rivers and magnificent countryside and we have been made really welcome here. 

'Tim Smith has great passion and has infected me with his enthusiasm for your fishing. I just wish we had more time to enjoy everything that you have here.'

Arundell Arms managing director Adam Fox-Edwards said: 'It is great that ABC TV choose to film the hotel's fishing and our wonderful region.

'We are actively marketing to the US to generate more overseas business. As this show is watched by over three million people, I hope it will attract many more US visitors to the area and the beautiful rivers of the Tamar Valley with which we are blessed.'

The Arundell Arms has private fishing on 20 miles of the River Tamar and its tributaries. It has been teaching fishing for 75 years and in 2011 was awarded the title 'Best Fishing School in the UK' by The Field magazine.