Carp Fishing in the Welsh Border’s Hidden Gem: Broadstone Park Camping and Fishery

I recently traveled to Wales on holiday to hike Mount Snowdon.

As many of you fellow anglers may relate to, I often find myself trying to fit in a good carp fish wherever I voyage. It has almost become a ritual of trying out a new fishery when travelling.

This trip to North Wales was no exception. On the way back home to sunny Sussex, I stopped off at Broadstone Park. A beautifully located family-run campsite that gets its name from the Neolithic stones situated in its grounds.

It also has its own fishery, consisting of one small pond for beginners and a medium-sized pond for experienced fishermen.

Surrounded by the lush foliage and ancient oak trees of the Welsh border, I camped a single night at Broadstone, amazed by its stunning scenery and abundance of wildlife.

Scoping the larger pond around dusk the next morning, I saw several large carp basking in the early sun of dawn. After observing these stunning creatures, I picked my swim and went back to the campsite for breakfast, returning a few hours later to fish.

The swim I had chosen was small, with overhanging trees and plenty of opportunity in the margins. The well-placed tree canopies lining the edge of the swim and boundaried reeds created the perfect hiding place for carp, making me confident in my choice.

Ease of access to these spots was also a factor in my selection. When casting in the margins, it is crucial to achieve near-perfect accuracy in casts to minimize disturbance and prevent scaring potential fish, all while ensuring your hook and bait are in the right spot. Location is key. Your casts need to be flawless in hitting your desired location - the wrong position of your bait could cost you fish.

After setting up my gear, I cast out two rods, each with a single fruity boilie on a simple hair rig.

Placing one just in front of a small group of reeds and another just under an overhanging tree branch on the left-hand side of my setup, I patiently waited for my first bite.

Now, excuse me for my brief digression - as an angler, I occasionally get that uncanny feeling of certainty about a particular fishing spot. The sense of 'I'm going to catch from here', a fish sense of sorts. Many of you may relate to moments when you are completely wrong, but more often than not, you are spot on. It could be the cast, the location, or a combination of factors that amount to a certain feeling that this cast is 'the one'.

It was this hunch that landed me my first fish. My rod, positioned underneath the overhanging tree, started to rip line like no tomorrow, hurtling north toward the center of the lake. After a ten-minute battle, I landed the fish - a spectacular 18lb common carp in immaculate condition.

Fifteen minutes later, I landed yet another carp from the exact same location: this time, a perfectly kept mirror carp. Unfortunately, however, after my second catch, my time fishing Broadstone Park Camping and Fishery was up, due to travel plans.

I could not recommend Broadstone Park Camping and Fishery enough. The quality of the fishing, the tranquility of the scenery, and most importantly, how well the fish are looked after are all reasons as to why Broadstone is a must-visit for those wanting a great day out fishing. The only downside is that I wish I could have stayed longer.