Cefn Mably Lakes

It’s a piscator’s paradise among the Welsh hills at Cefn Mably Lakes, where anglers can break out the boilies, bread and dog biscuits to net a monster haul before bedding down for the night in a cosy log camping pod, right on the water’s edge.

Fish from dawn till dusk from the stoop of your pod, or try some night fishing on the Lodge Lake. There are nine different coarse and carp lakes across the 35-acre park, including a match pond where pole, waggler and feeder fishermen regularly thrash it out. The waters teem with an assortment of hungry fish, but the carp are the stars: two recent catches were over 26 pounds, and bags usually make it to double figures.

A brand new shower block stands ready to warm the cockles after a hard day or night on the pegs, and the cosy lodge overlooking the water serves up drinks and hot and cold grub all day, as well as selling all the tackle and bait you could possibly need. There’s even a resident angling coach on hand for lessons, in the (highly unlikely) event that the fish aren’t biting.

Just across the road is Cefn Mably Farm Park, with animals galore, pony rides and tractor loads of play areas, including a massive heated play barn.