STORM Dennis brought chaos, but for the Black Rock net fishermen the rain was manna from heaven as they were able to kayak from Caldicot Castle to Caerwent across what is normally dry land.

The deluge filled up the dried up Neddern river bed, allowing members of the 100-year-old fishery and Sudbrook Kayak Club paddlers to undertake the ‘surreal’ trip along the old Roman route.

Black Rock secretary Martin Morgan even tried out the fishery’s coracle on the reborn river.

He said: “The fields of the Neddern were flooded and it was surreal seeing a coracle paddled around Caldicot Castle… I wonder when that was last done.

“After Storm Dennis the fields of the old Neddern river, long drained, became a huge lake. This is a rare event and our fishermen teamed up with the Sudbrook kayakers to paddle all the way from Caldicot castle to Caerwent, a surreal experience.

“The old Neddern before sea walls, drainage and re-routing was once tidal.

“The Romans would use it to access their fort and city at Caerwent. We ended up kayaking on a football pitch, over bridges and managed to kayak all the way from Caldicot through ‘the reens’ to almost the Roman walls. What a trip.

“If the water level was controlled by sluice gates and this waterway kept at a constant level, what a resource for leisure and wildlife this would be.”

Martin added: “It is very rare that this journey can be undertaken, but the incredible amount of rain in recent weeks turned the area into a vast lake.

“Moving upstream towards Caerwent the banks of the ancient river were clearly visible and the amount of birds wintering in the area was incredible.”

While coracle fishing has largely disappeared, legend has it that St Arvan, who gives his name to the village and church near Chepstow, was a ninth century hermit who fished for salmon in a coracle.

The church apparently used to own a stone carving of a coracle and salmon.

See www.blackrocklavenets.co.uk for more information.