Our story
Ravensnest sits in the peaceful valley of the Anghidi Fawr, a spring-fed stream that rises high on Llanishen Ridge. Its crystal-clear waters have long made this an ideal setting for trout.
When local entrepreneur Ed Perry, founder of Forest Adventure, acquired the site in 2025, he found a fishery with great potential but ponds that had fallen into disrepair. He set about restoring them—dredging years of accumulated silt, rebuilding the banks, and carefully bringing the water back to life. At the same time, a small woodland campsite was created to complement the setting.
Today, Ravensnest has been transformed into a beautiful destination for outdoor recreation. Visitors can enjoy year-round fly fishing on pristine waters, while the warmer months bring paddleboarding and kayaking on the lakes, with tuition available for beginners and experienced paddlers alike.
What we offer
Excellent fishing in a stunning location
Excellent Fishing
Ravensnest is regularly stocked with hard-fighting rainbow and tiger trout, while a healthy population of wild brown trout provides an extra challenge for the discerning angler. The fishery offers excellent sport throughout the year.
Our two lakes each have their own character, from sheltered margins to deeper open water, giving anglers a variety of fishing conditions to enjoy. Fed by the crystal-clear springs of the Anghidi Fawr, the exceptional water quality creates a healthy environment where trout thrive.
Equipment Hire, Tuition & Refreshments
Whether you’re an experienced angler or trying fly fishing for the first time, we have everything you need to get started. Rods are available to hire, and a selection of flies can be purchased from our cabin, making it easy to enjoy a day on the water without investing in your own equipment.
We also offer one-to-one or two-person tuition, with hourly lessons tailored to all abilities. Hot and cold drinks, along with a range of snacks, are available from the cabin throughout the day.
Camping
Perched above the lakes in Ravensnest Wood, our peaceful micro-campsite offers a true back-to-nature experience without sacrificing the essentials. Spacious pitches are surrounded by woodland, with modern toilets and complimentary hot showers just a short walk away.
Campfires are welcome, and seasoned firewood is available for £10 per barrow load. For a little extra comfort, our fishing lodge is close by for refreshments and supplies. The campsite can also be booked for exclusive use, making it ideal for families, clubs and small groups.
Our History
The story of Ravensnest stretches back almost 900 years. As early as the 12th century, Cistercian monks from nearby Tintern Abbey dammed the Anghidi Fawr to harness its pure spring water for milling grain. Over the centuries, this quiet stream became the lifeblood of the valley, with a network of ponds, dams and leats carefully engineered to capture its power. The same waters that now sustain trout once drove the wheels of one of Britain’s earliest industrial landscapes.
From the 16th to the 19th century, the Anghidi Valley became internationally renowned for its wireworks and iron industry. More than twenty waterwheels powered forges and mills, producing some of the finest wire in Britain for everything from fishing hooks and knitting needles to the wool trade. Hundreds of skilled workers were employed here, making Tintern one of the country’s first integrated industrial communities. As steam power replaced water in the Victorian era, the valley’s industries gradually fell silent, leaving behind the peaceful landscape enjoyed today.
The valley’s natural beauty found a new purpose in the 1980s when Geoffrey Arthur Vinall, a successful local shipyard owner and entrepreneur, purchased the site and created Ravensnest as a private fly fishery. Over the following decades the fishery passed through several owners before fishing finally ceased during the Covid lockdown in 2021. Following extensive restoration in 2025, Ravensnest has once again become a thriving destination for fly fishing, continuing a long tradition of making the most of the Anghidi Fawr’s remarkable waters.
Gallery
