The Fishermans Retreat

In 1981 Hervey and Susan Magnall (mum & dad) purchased Twine Valley with their house funds. It was a 25-acre valley containing four fishing lodges and many tumbledown stone buildings (the ruins of 19th century bleachers and dyers mills). The land wasn't very good for farming, but it had a family history associated with it. Hervey's great grandfather had lived near the valley and worked in the mill overlooking the valley; also Hervey's father and grandfather had played as children in Twine Valley.

Initially the land supported a herd of South Devon and Longhorn cattle, until it became evident after 6 or 7 years that the valley needed to pay for itself in a more substantial way. Existing lodges were used to set up a trout fishery; rearing rainbow trout for the purpose of stocking the 4.5-acre fly fishing lodge. Through word of mouth, local people heard about the trout fishery and travelled up the road for 'fresh trout'. This added another string to our bow.