The airy grasslands above the Combe
make a marked contrast to the dark woodland below. A
great spot for butterflies, with a magical view across
Mendip.
What
to look out for
The damp wooded Combe is home to
the rare moonwort fern which grows under the old yew
trees. The woodland and scrub on the reserve support
a thriving population of the hazel dormouse.
Goblin Combe is a gorge cut into
the limestone by melting snow and ice during the last
ice age. Climb steeply to the limestone grassland and
patches of heath above. In late summer the grassland
is dotted with autumn gentian, autumn lady's tresses
and yellow-wort. Over 30 species of butterfly have
been recorded here, including grizzled and dingy skippers,
brown argus and green hairstreak.
Access
Footpaths along the floor of Goblin
Combe can be very muddy and slippery. Exercise caution
and do not approach cliffs and scree slopes.
Follow the A370 to Cleeve village. Turn onto Cleeve Hill Road and follow the road for about 1/4 mile. Parking is available in the old quarry car park, which is on the left-hand side of the road just past the junction for Goblin Combe Environment Centre. Follow signs for the woodland track running at the bottom of the valley through the Goblin Combe Environment Centre Reserve until you reach signs for the AWT Goblin Combe Reserve.
Further
information
Reserves in this area
Look for...
Species video
Maps
Reserve map
National Cycle Network
Location details
Grid ref
ST 471 652
Area
9.0 hectares
Nearest postcode to reserve
BS40 5PR
(0.469 km from grid reference)
Ways into wildlife
Goblin Combe is one of our
Top 10 nature reserves!
Download a
detailed walk for this reserve here (PDF).
