Swans, Black-headed gulls and Cormorants at Chew Valley Lake, North Somerset.

Young Swan just after take-off.

Cormorant lecturing Black-headed gulls on fishing techniques.

The  largest artificial lake in Southwest England, Chew Valley Lake is just north of the Mendip Hills and was created by the Bristol Waterworks Company to supply water for South Bristol.  Planned before the Second World war, construction was authorised in 1949, the lake was inaugurated by Queen Elizabeth ll in 1956.

I can recommend the excellent restaurant, Woodford Lodge, on the western shore of the lake which is accessed from the B3114.  There is also a café and car park on the northern tip of the lake.

If you are just driving by there is a spacious lay-by on the B3114, south of Chew Stoke, from which you can view the scenery and do some bird-watching. This is where the above photos were taken.  There is another lay-by on the A368, north-east of West Harptree, which also overlooks the lake. 

As well as enjoying the wonderful views of the North Somerset countryside and the foothills of the Mendips keep an eye open for some of the 260 species of birds recorded at Chew.