Lynchcombe Steps

Lynchcombe Dawn - Mendip Hills, Somerset, UK. ID JB_1964

Lynchcombe Dawn – Mendip Hills, Somerset, UK. ID JB_1964

Lynchcombe Winter

Winter on this grassland nature reserve high up on the Mendip Hills can sometimes look like this.  Back in 2019, just before the pandemic, it was hard to stand during this blizzard.

Lynchcombe in Snow - Mendip Hills, Somerset, UK. ID 825_6075

Lynchcombe in Snow – Mendip Hills, Somerset, UK. ID 825_6075

Until the last few days when storms Eunice and Franklin blasted Somerset we had had a very quiet few months. Instead of snow we had lots of red dawns, white mists and golden sunsets.

Winter Mornings

This winter has been very mild, bringing with it some dull grey days.  But also some wonderful mornings if you get up before the clouds build and you lose the sun until evening.

Westbury-sub-Mendip - From Lynchcombe, Mendip Hills, Somerset, UK. ID BR58571

Westbury-sub-Mendip – From Lynchcombe, Mendip Hills, Somerset, UK. ID BR58571

Lynchcombe is covered in many old hawthorn trees and crumbing dry-stone walls.

Lynchcombe Dawn - Mendip Hills, Somerset, UK. ID JB_1742

Lynchcombe Dawn – Mendip Hills, Somerset, UK. ID JB_1742

Just after sunrise the low light picks out the tuffs of grass across the top of the nature reserve.

Lynchcombe Dawn - Mendip Hills, Somerset, UK. ID JB_1803

Lynchcombe Dawn – Mendip Hills, Somerset, UK. ID JB_1803

Some mornings have been spectacular.

Lynchcombe Sunrise - Mendip Hills, Somerset, UK. ID JB_7322

Lynchcombe Sunrise – Mendip Hills, Somerset, UK. ID JB_7322

Mists

Lynchcombe has open views across the Somerset Levels towards Glastonbury Tor.

Glastonbury Tree from Lynchcombe - Mendip Hills, Somerset, UK. ID JB_4363

Glastonbury Tree from Lynchcombe – Mendip Hills, Somerset, UK. ID JB_4363

The Axe Valley and beyond can be full of white mist.  In the distance the Yarley Tree stands alone on a ridge of hills.

Yarley Tree from Lynchcombe - Above Westbury-sub-Mendip, Mendip Hills, Somerset, UK. ID JB_4413

Yarley Tree from Lynchcombe – Above Westbury-sub-Mendip, Mendip Hills, Somerset, UK. ID JB_4413

Sunsets

The southern edge of the Mendips faces the south-west making the perfect vantage point for sunsets.

Sunset from Lynchcombe - Mendip Hills, Nr Westbury-sub-Mendip, Somerset, UK. ID JB_8811H

Sunset from Lynchcombe – Mendip Hills, Nr Westbury-sub-Mendip, Somerset, UK. ID JB_8811H

Starlings

The Somerset Levels are famous for the starlings that roost amongst the reeds each evening.  At dawn huge flocks lift from the reeds and spread out across Somerset.  Some venture up Lynchcombe’s valley.  In front of the Snow Moon one group reaches the top of the Mendips for another day.

Starlings fly over Lynchcombe - From Deerleap, Mendip Hills, Somerset, UK. ID JB_1278

Starlings fly over Lynchcombe – From Deerleap, Mendip Hills, Somerset, UK. ID JB_1278

Starlings a few days earlier, and not quit a snow moon.

Starlings fly over Lynchcombe - From Deerleap, Mendip Hills, Somerset, UK. ID JB_1279

Starlings fly over Lynchcombe – From Deerleap, Mendip Hills, Somerset, UK.

Ravens

A pair of ravens circle over the nature reserve in front of moon.

Early morning conspiracy of ravens - Lynchcombe, Mendip Hills, Somerset, UK. ID JB_1877

Early morning conspiracy of ravens – Lynchcombe, Mendip Hills, Somerset, UK. ID JB_1877

Storms

Eunice and Franklin blasted the Bristol Channel and Somerset over the last few days.

Dawn after Storm Eunice - Lynchcombe, Somerset, UK. ID JB_1784

Dawn after Storm Eunice – Lynchcombe, Somerset, UK. ID JB_1784

Somehow, the exposed nature reserve survived with barely a scratch.  At the most exposed corner of the reserve this unbalanced tree covered in ivy is somehow still standing.

Still Standing - Lynchcombe, Mendip Hills, Somerset, UK. ID JB_1673

Still Standing – Lynchcombe, Mendip Hills, Somerset, UK. ID JB_1673

Work Continues

The low winter fun illuminates the lynchetts.  These were part of medieval farmstead that was once here.

In the fore ground the tree clearance work continues to deal with ash dieback.

Lynchcombe Dawn - Mendip Hills, Somerset, UK. ID JB_1955

Lynchcombe Dawn – Mendip Hills, Somerset, UK. ID JB_1955

And finally…

Spring is just around the corner.

Hazel Catkins - Lynchcombe, Somerset, UK. ID JB_2083

Hazel Catkins – Lynchcombe, Somerset, UK. ID JB_2083

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1 Response

  1. Noelle says:

    Stunning Photography of a very special place

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