Goblin Combe
Location
Know before you go
Entry fee
NoGrazing animals
YesWalking trails
Footpaths along the floor of Goblin Combe can be very muddy and slippery. Exercise caution and do not approach cliffs and scree slopes.
Access
Very steep access, steps and paths can be muddy. Footpaths along the floor of Goblin Combe can be very muddy and slippery. Exercise caution and do not approach cliffs and scree slopes. Contact the Trust for disabled access information
Dogs
When to visit
Opening times
Open at all timesBest time to visit
March to July, September to NovemberAbout the reserve
ST 476 650The 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. 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, one of the largest in the area. 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.