Our verdict
Lumpy, poisoned, wonderful — the lead in the soil keeps the turf strange and the wildlife rare. The pool is one of the best dragonfly spots on Mendip. Watch dogs near deep water and old shafts.
Hummocky old lead-working ground on the Mendip plateau, its pools and spoil heaps now a haven for dragonflies, adders and heath flowers. St Cuthbert's lead works closed in 1908; nature has been busy since.
Open access land under the Countryside & Rights of Way Act. You're free to roam on foot beyond the paths. Dogs on a short lead 1 March to 31 July and around livestock.