Brent Knoll / Crook Peak / Somerset Levels / Wells

Welcome to December

by Jeff Bevan · Published 1st December 2020 · Updated 5th December 2020

Early Frost – Godney Moor, Somerset, UK. ID IMG_1005

One Day in December

The cold weather arrived with December. I stopped on an early morning ride across the Somerset Level to photograph the frost in the fields.

First Frost – Fenny Castle, Somerset, UK. ID IMG_0994

Dawn

But my day started a few hours earlier. I travelled to Knapp Hill above the tiny City of Wells. I was hoping to see the cathedral rising out of the mist. But while you can see it there in the background the mist never reached the city.

Wells Dawn – From Knapp Hill, Beryl, Wells, Somerset, UK. ID JB1_0050

The word knapp means a hilltop, so Knapp Hill is a the Hilltop Hill. Just out of the picture is Ben Knowle Hill which translates to Mountain peak summit hill – so hill, hill, hill. Alternatively, with a bit of Cornish in the mix, it could be Mountain dwellers hill.

On the side of Knapp Hill is Beryl Farm.

Dawn at Beryl Farm – Wells, Somerset, UK. IDJB1_0090

Soon it was time to get home for work meeting. Like many I am currently working from home. Meeting complete I was soon out for the cycle ride. Wrapped up to keep warm this was a beautiful morning.

Early Frost – Godney Moor, Somerset, UK. ID IMG_1005

All too soon was back home designing some more software.

Afternoon

I rushed up Crook Hill in the Mendip Hills to photograph the huge NHS written in the stone. I missed the sun so the letters had fallen into shadow.

NHS – Crook Peak, Mendip Hills, Somerset, UK. ID JB1_9592HP

This stone circle was much easier to fit into the viewfinder.

Stone Circle – Creak Peak, Somerset, UK. ID JB1_9626

Below the hill, at Crab Hole, is this wonderful example of ridge and furrow. Strangly, the parish boundary follows the loop around the ridges. Clearly, a lot of history to discover about this hill.

Ridge and furrow – Nr Crab Hole, Somerset, UK. ID JB1_9760

Evening

I do not go out to take photographs without a plan. I knew about this patch of old-man’s beard at the lay-by at the side of the road below Crook Peak. I had seen it on several cycle rides. Today I hoped to capture it backlit against the sunset.