Somerset Landscape Character Assessment

The Limestone Plateau LCT is located within the north of Somerset and broadly extends from Beacon Batch (in the west) to Asham Wood and Merehead Quarry (in the south-east). It is bounded by North Somerset to the north-west. The LCT extends across an elevated gentle plateau which descends to the Wooded Limestone Slopes (LCT 2), to the west, south and north-east, and the Sandstone Slopes and Valley Heads (LCT 4) to the south-east. The Farmed Limestone Plateau Edge (LCT 1) borders part of the northern boundary of the Limestone Plateau LCT and forms an undulating dip slope to the north of the main Mendip plateau. The western half of the LCT is located within the Mendip Hills National Landscape.

The Limestone Plateau LCT consists of an open elevated plateau underlain by a free-draining Karst geomorphology, which has resulted in little open surface water features. Given the elevation and limited reliable access to water, there is limited settlement on the plateau with opportunities to experience dark skies across the LCT. Heathland and grassland habitats contribute to the open and windswept character of the plateau, particularly in the centre and west, with scattered woodland providing a contrasting landscape pattern in the east. The high concentration of prehistoric and Roman Scheduled Monuments across the LCT reflects the legacy of early settlement within the landscape, with a strong of sense of industrial heritage reflecting a more recent history.

Key Characteristics

• A broad, gently rolling plateau landscape, becoming more varied in the east. Active and disused quarries create man-made incisions within the landform, particularly to the east.
• Slightly acidic soils, with some areas of sandy and loamy soils, overlie a limestone bedrock (formed in the Carboniferous period). An underlying Karst geomorphology results in numerous cave systems, such as those near Priddy.
• Linear field patterns reflecting enclosure from the 18th century are predominantly in pastoral use, with some smaller areas of arable cultivation. Field boundaries are typically formed of low drystone walls.
• Mineral extraction sites, such as at Torr Quarry Works have a notable influence on landform and tranquillity within the east of the LCT.
• Heathland and grassland habitats contribute to the open and windswept character of the plateau, particularly in the centre and west of the LCT. Occasional blocks of conifers form areas of contrast across the plateau, with pockets of ash-dominated woodland more common in the south-east of the LCT.
• A sparse settlement pattern with some isolated farmsteads, reflecting the elevated nature of the plateau and the underlying Karst geomorphology limiting surface sources of water.
• A dense concentration of barrows and hillforts reflect the presence of human occupation on the plateau between the prehistoric and Roman eras. Roman occupation of the area is also reflected in the long, straight nature of roads crossing the plateau.
• The open upland landscape, largely devoid of settlement, results in high levels of tranquillity and a sense of relative remoteness. Dark skies are experienced throughout, although with localised light pollution in proximity to Shepton Mallet.
• Solar farms to the north of Shepton Mallet and on a small ridge at Shooters Bottom detract from the rural character, whilst masts and turbines in the adjacent Wooded Limestone Slopes (LCT 2) form obvious human influences on the skyline of broad views across the plateau.
• Open views across the plateau, with some more distant views across lower-lying surrounding landscapes available from the edges of the plateau.

Natural Influences

A gentle plateau forms the majority of the LCT, with incised stream valley slopes and combes become more prevalent where the landform gradually slopes east towards the adjacent Sandstone Slopes and Valley Heads (LCT 4). Areas of Portishead Formation (old red sandstone) have resulted in localised high points across the plateau; North Hill rises to the north-east of Priddy at 307 metres Above Ordnance Datum (AOD), whilst Pen Hill (on the transitional boundary to LCT 2: Wooded Limestone Slopes) overlooks the area at 305m AOD. Along lower-lying reaches of streams in the east of this LCT and the transitional edges of the plateau, the topography ranges from 160-180m AOD. Active and disused quarries create man-made incisions within the LCT, particularly in the east.

Slightly acidic base-rich and loamy soils overlie a predominantly limestone bedrock of the Carboniferous period, resulting in an underlying Karst geomorphology. An extensive cave system (a special quality of the Mendip Hills National Landscape) underlies the LCT. Lamb Leer, Priddy Caves, Brimble Pitt and Cross Swallet, mainly located in the west of the LCT, are all designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) for their unique examples of sinking streams, closed depressions and caves within the landscape. Caves and swallets near Charterhouse Farm, in the north-west of the LCT, form outlying parts of the Cheddar Complex SSSI.

Pastoral agriculture forms the prevailing land use across the plateau, with the LCT mainly within Agricultural Land Classification (ALC) Grades 3 and 4. Heathland and grassland habitats across the plateau contribute to the open and exposed character of the LCT, contributing varying textures to the prevailing pattern of pastoral fields. Areas of lowland heathland (priority habitat) extend across Beacon Batch and supplement a mosaic of valley mire, open water, swamp and tall fen habitats at the Priddy Pools SSSI. Lowland dry acid grassland, supplemented by areas of lowland meadows and lowland calcareous grassland (priority habitats) contribute to the habitats supported at the Chancellor’s Farm SSSI in the west of the LCT.

Woodland cover is often limited to enclosed valley slopes or lower elevations, notably in the east of the LCT at Asham Woods (SSSI). This is also designated as the Mendip Woodland Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and is a relatively extensive example of Tilio-Acerion forests (woods of ash, wych elm and lime) on limestone. Areas of wood pasture and parkland surrounding the ruins of Ashwick Grove House are unique and valued for the species they support. Occasional angular blocks of conifer plantations contrast with the open plateau, particularly in the centre and west.

Cultural Influences

Due to the elevated and gentle nature of the plateau, the area has a rich legacy of human settlement (a special quality of the Mendip Hills National Landscape). Several Scheduled Monuments across the LCT reflect the funerary and ritualistic prehistoric use of the area. The cluster of Priddy Circles and Priddy Nine Barrow north-east of Priddy (both Scheduled Monuments) sit on the highest and most remote sections of the plateau, reflecting the history of this elevated landscape as a sacred burial ground and location for ceremonial rituals.

Maesbury Castle, a small multivallate hillfort (Scheduled Monument), is located on a strategic vantage point within the east of the LCT and forms a landmark rising above the surrounding lower-lying landscape. Remains of the Roman occupation are found within and near Charterhouse, including the Town-Field Roman Settlement and Roman Camp (both designated Scheduled Monuments). However, these survive predominantly as buried features and are therefore less discernible in the wider landscape. The Roman occupation is also reflected in a surviving pattern of long, straight roads crossing the plateau. A section of the Fosse Way crosses into the LCT from Shepton Mallet (within LCT 2: Wooded Limestone Slopes), extending towards Oakhill. Sections of the route within the LCT can be followed by public rights of way (PRoW). The course of a former Roman Road also passes broadly on a north-west to south-east alignment across the centre and west of the plateau, however this is less discernible in the landscape. A World War II defence site (Scheduled Monument) at Beacon Batch is located in the west, reflecting the defensive use of the elevated plateau in more recent history.

Elsewhere within the LCT several quarries and mines, including St Cuthbert’s and Chewton lead mines and Fair Lady Well (Scheduled Monuments), are considered to have origins from the Roman and Medieval eras; reflecting the legacy of mineral extraction within the LCT.

Fields are relatively regular and linear in pattern, reflecting parliamentary and more recent enclosure. Fields are enclosed by traditional drystone walls composed of local materials that criss-cross the plateau farmlands, which are a special quality of the Mendip Hills National Landscape and valued for the habitat connectivity they provide. Elsewhere, fields are hedged with mainly hawthorn, blackthorn and hazel, and other native shrubs with hedgerow trees predominantly consisting of oak and ash. Livestock grazing is the main land use within the LCT, partly due to poor quality soils, with much of the land classed as Grade 3 or 4 Agricultural Land Classification (ALC). However, there are some areas of arable production on more open and flat areas of the plateau.

Settlement across the landscape is limited. This is mainly due to the underlying Karst geomorphology having largely restricted standing water across the plateau, and so historically it has not been desirable to settle within this landscape. The small village of Priddy is located in the west of the LCT. In the east of the LCT are several small villages and hamlets, including Doulting and Oakhill (both designated as a Conservation Area), which features a notable concentration of listed buildings. Parkland associated with the former Ashwick Grove House (now ruins) form the north-eastern setting to the Oakhill Conservation Area. Traditional buildings materials mainly comprise local limestone.

Modern development is predominantly concentrated around quarries within the east of the LCT such as Torr Quarry (formerly Merehead Quarry), which expanded rapidly following World War II to provide significant limestone supplies to help with post-war reconstruction. Extensive areas of woodland planting have been implemented along the boundary of Torr Quarry. More recent infrastructure includes solar farms to the north of Shepton Mallet and on a small ridge at Shooters Bottom, which are located in the east of the LCT (outside of the Mendip Hills National Landscape).

Major roads within this LCT are mainly limited to the east of the area, which includes the A39, A37 and A367. Secondary roads over the plateau include very long straight sections (reflecting combinations of both the Roman and Georgian sense of order).

Perceptual Influences

The distinct lack of settlement within the interior of the plateau results in high levels of tranquillity and dark night skies and a sense of remoteness and naturalness, contributing to the special qualities of the Mendip Hills National Landscape. The proximity of settlements to the south and west (including Shepton Mallet, Wells and Cheddar) detract from rural character along the edges of the LCT. Main roads including the A39, A37 and A367 exert a localised visual and audible influence, especially during weekends due to the large influx of people visiting the recreational offerings within the designated landscape.

Quarrying, such as at Torr Quarry Works, is a prominent feature of the landscape to the east of the LCT. However, these sites are generally well contained in the landscape with operations often only visible in glimpsed views at quarry entrances or occasionally from footpaths that run along the perimeter of the quarry sites. However, the large number of trucks coming in and out of the sites can create an audible distraction. Solar farms to the north of Shepton Mallet and on a small ridge at Shooters Bottom detract from rural character, although surrounding boundary vegetation helps integrate them into the wider landscape. Two wind turbines located within the Wooded Limestone Slopes (LCT 2) are distinctive on the skyline, particularly when viewed from within the north of the Limestone Plateau LCT. The mast associated with the Mendip transmitting station on Pen Hill (located within the adjacent Wooded Limestone Slopes (LCT 2)) also forms a distinctive skyline feature and its aviation lighting can be viewed from large areas of the plateau. The two masts east of Beacon Batch are also distinctive skyline features.

The gentle landform, presence of low dry-stone walls and the lack of settlement contribute to an open upland environment that enables long expansive views across the plateau. Views from the interior of the LCT are generally focused across the extensive gently undulating plateau. More expansive panoramic views across the surrounding lower-lying landscape of the Levels (LCT 10), Peat and Clay Moors (LCT 11), along the Somerset coastline and across the Severn Estuary to Wales (a special quality of the Mendip Hills National Landscape) are available from the edges of the plateau, including from the viewpoint at Deerleap, and from local high points, such as Beacon Batch.

Walking routes within the LCT are well connected, particularly in the west of the LCT within the Mendip Hills National Landscape. Several long-distance footpaths including the Monarch’s Way, the West Mendip Way and the Limestone Link, as well as a network of local PRoWs, cross the LCT, in addition to Route 3 of the National Cycle Network (which crosses the centre of the LCT). There is also a large area of open access land at Beacon Batch which is popular among walkers, with expansive views available from the summit. Walking trails and the picnic area at Stockhill Wood offer a contrasting experience, nestled within the shelter of the surrounding coniferous woodland. The opportunities for recreation experienced within the landscape are a special quality of the Mendip Hills National Landscape.

Key Sensitivities and Valued Features

• The Karst geomorphology of the LCT has resulted in numerous cave systems, contributing to several unique examples of sinking streams, closed depressions and caves near Priddy. This diverse and visible geology contributes to the sense of place and is a special quality of the Mendip Hills National Landscape.
• Regular medium-scale fields enclosed by drystone walls (a special quality of the Mendip Hills National Landscape) provide a strong landscape pattern and are valued for the habitat connectivity they provide.
• Areas of heathland and lowland grassland including important calcareous grassland habitats (which support diverse and species-rich flora) near Beacon Batch and Priddy create wildlife corridors, support habitat connectivity and contribute to the windswept character of the plateau (a special quality of the Mendip Hills National Landscape).
• The Mendip Woodlands SAC in the south-east of the LCT is a valued landscape feature and ecologically important, providing visual contrast with the open plateau in the centre of the LCT.
• The wood pasture and parkland surrounding the ruins of Ashwick Grove House provide unique habitat and form part of the setting to the Oakhill Conservation Area, contributing to time depth.
• Archaeological remains, including prehistoric barrows, earthworks and hillforts, evidence of Roman occupation and the industrial mining heritage, contribute to the time depth. The evidence of historic human settlement, which supports a legible historic landscape, is a special quality of the Mendip Hills National Landscape.
• Recreational value is provided by the Monarch’s Way, the West Mendip Way and the Limestone Link, as well as the area of open access land at Beacon Batch and walking trails at Stockhill Wood, which enables further recreational access to the landscape. The opportunities for recreation experienced within the landscape are a special quality of the Mendip Hills National Landscape.
• The gentle landform and open character of the plateau, with limited woodland coverage and interconnected pattern of low drystone walls, enables long and expansive views across the plateau. Open views across adjacent lowlands that are afforded from the edge of the LCT and localised high points contribute to the sense of place. Panoramic outward views are a special quality of the Mendip Hills National Landscape.
• The lack of settlement, windswept character of the plateau and dark night skies provides a strong sense of remoteness. The sparsely populated and tranquil plateau is a special quality of the Mendip Hills National Landscape.

The Changing Landscape

The following section sets out the changes and pressures to the Limestone Plateau LCT

• Intensive mineral extraction from quarries within the LCT (such as Torr Quarry) have created localised incisions within the landscape. A rising demand for building materials is likely to result in the expansion of quarries and associated transport infrastructure, resulting in further degradation of landscape pattern and the sense of rural tranquillity.
• Westdown Quarry, located adjacent to Asham Woods (SSSI) will resume operations in 2025. A reintroduction of quarrying may result in the damage to important ecological and geological habitats and will lead to further erosion of landscape pattern and rural tranquillity.
• Altered hydrology in cave sites may affect flood passages within the LCT and remove cave sediments. However, erosion may also expose new geological sites of interest.
• Potential changes in woodland and tree species composition due to climate change, with warmer conditions benefiting some small-leaved tree species that require warm weather for germination, may alter the contrasting landscape pattern in the east of the LCT.
• Ash dieback has led to a decline in the number and structure of trees, and ash trees within the Mendip Hills are suffering significantly from the disease. This is already impacting on biodiversity and the character of the landscape. The highly-valued woodland habitats in the east of the LCT could see further reduction in condition due to the effects of pests and disease (such as ash dieback), drought, waterlogging and wind damage. The Mendip Woodlands SAC is likely to be the most affected given its high population of ash trees, and the reduction in this species is likely to change the visual character of the LCT.
• Drier summers, as a consequence of climate change, are expected to cause longer growing seasons and drought conditions which could significantly alter the flowering time and abundance of lowland heathland and grassland within the LCT. Drier conditions may also result in the loss of characteristic species-rich grassland, in favour of more generalist species due to seasonal weather pattern changes, leading to changes in the landscape pattern and textures, particularly across the open and exposed plateau in the centre and west of the LCT.
• Damage to traditional stone walls from repeated thermal expansion and contraction (during hotter summers and warmer winters) is likely to threaten the structural integrity of the stone walls. Limestone walls, as are characteristic across the LCT, are particularly sensitive to changes in pollution and the chemistry of the atmosphere, leading to further erosion.
• An increase in the intensity and frequency of rainfall due to climate change may result in damage to historic monuments, such as the Priddy Circles (Scheduled Monuments) and the numerous barrows scattered across the LCT, through repeated wetting and drying cycles.
• Changes in the pastoral character to keep livestock under shaded barns, as a consequence of hotter drier conditions associated with climate change, are likely to change the grazing pattern of the LCT and introduce large-scale agricultural features into the landscape.
• Solar farms (such as those to the north of Shepton Mallet and on a small ridge at Shooters Bottom) have influenced the land use pattern and form localised modern features in the rural landscape. Increased pressure for renewable energy developments, particularly extension of solar farms and wind turbines within elevated and exposed areas, would likely result in adverse effects on landscape and visual character.
• Increased recreational pressure, as a result of population increase, settlement expansion and hotter or drier summers, may result in erosion of footpaths or walkways, potentially damaging sensitive habitats, and increased traffic congestion near promoted recreational routes (such as the West Mendip Way), reducing tranquillity.

These guidelines recommend how the landscape can be managed to ensure future change respects the local character and should be read in conjunction with the overarching management strategy objectives of the Somerset Landscape Character Assessment.

Landscape Management

• Protect the key views across, towards and from the plateau, maintaining the windswept and rural character both in local views and where the plateau forms a relatively undeveloped skyline, in combination with the rising Wooded Limestone Slopes (LCT 2) in views from lower-lying landscapes to the south and south-west.
• Manage the areas of caves (particularly surrounding Priddy) from the increased pressures of tourism and recreational use, mitigating against the disturbance of nationally significant areas of geology and important species of wildlife, such as bats. Produce guidance on sustainable cave and underground recreation, providing facilitation between user groups. Manage overlying land and catchment in a manner that takes account of potential consequences on the caves.
• Conserve and enhance the existing unique grassland habitats and the variety of rare species they support. Ensure the network of heathland (at Beacon Batch) and lowland grassland (near Priddy) remains intact, and that woodland creation does not result in the loss of permanent pasture or unimproved grassland, but instead is designed to extend the mosaic of grassland and woodland.
• Manage areas of woodland (predominantly within the east of the LCT) by replacing diseased species with others more resilient to pests and climate change, for example, restocking in ash woodlands such as the Mendip Woodlands SAC due to ash dieback.
• Consider conserving deadwood within woodland areas of the LCT to protect the landscape as well as providing a more diverse and healthier ecosystem for the trees and the many species that rely on woodland. Deadwood would also aid in decomposition and carbon storage.
• Avoid the introduction of features and land uses that can harm landscape character and biodiversity, including uncharacteristic planting and field boundaries, the subdivision of fields by electrified and post and rail fences, as well as the degradation of the sward by overgrazing.
• Restore, conserve and manage drystone walls in a manner that reinforces their landscape pattern and biodiversity value and as appropriate to the local landscape.
• Respect and conserve the historic landscapes, including the prehistoric barrows, earthworks and hillforts, evidence of Roman occupation and the industrial mining heritage, and other associated features that contribute to the character and interest of the area.

Development Management

• Conserve the rural skyline of the Mendip Hills National Landscape, avoiding vertical elements and lighting that could adversely impact its special qualities (including views towards it), and also the panoramic views out across the lower-lying adjacent LCTs.
• New development should use locally appropriate materials (such as local limestone), of the appropriate colour and texture that respect and enhance local distinctiveness and the traditional character of the area.
• Conserve the dispersed settlement pattern and vernacular features of distinct villages such as Doulting and Oakhill, including the historic parkland landscape surrounding the ruins of Ashwick Grove House that forms part of the setting to Oakhill.
• Avoid loss of historic drystone walls (a special quality of the Mendip Hills National Landscape) resulting from new developments such as large-scale farm buildings and infrastructure.
• Ensure that any new renewable energy developments (including wind turbines and solar arrays) are sensitively designed and sited, avoiding the prominent slopes and ridgelines of the landscape. Consider and manage the potential for adverse cumulative impacts, particularly with existing turbines and masts.