After some success photographing some of Somerset’s countryside, I decided to get some Exmoor winter photos when I heard low temperatures and more snow was coming. I looked at the forecast and snow was due to arrive by 9am on Exmoor so I decided to get up at 5am and leave as soon as I had everything together. Just after 6am I set off from Bridgwater.
All was dark and deathly quiet as I set off early. The M5 motorway was pretty clear and the first part of the journey not a problem. Then after about 15-20 minutes I hit the snow…..early! It was thick and visibility was very limited. Then as it worsened, so too did the amount of snow on the road. I couldn’t go above 40mph on the motorway, then as I got on the smaller roads guided by the sat nav (boy did I ever need that!) I couldn’t go faster than 20mph! Starting to think I should have turned back earlier, I carried on and by this time was really looking forward to seeing daylight again so I could see more than 10 metres in front of me!
After some careful, steady driving I got to Exebridge and a car was stuck at the bottom of a small bridge outside a pub. Fearing the same fate, I was just about to overtake when the driver door opened and blocked my run up. Now I was stuck too! After a few attempts I got over the bridge (and the other driver turned around). I then found myself not able to get past a second bridge so I was stuck between the two. Anyway, after a lot of toing and froing, I parked up safely and decided to go for a walk with my camera and reassess the situation later. As I walked along the road, a Dulverton local slowed his car to ask if I needed a lift. I took him up on his offer and off we went into Dulverton (you can see the church below).
Well as you can see I did get some nice photos which I will later turn into cards and prints. The road conditions improved and I was able to get home safely. I was quite fortunate though as it wasn’t until I got to Exmoor that I realised that I had left my wallet on the coffee table before setting out!
Above we have our snowy day and below a wedding I photographed at Dulverton church one beautiful summer’s day.
