I love dogs, but we don’t own a dog. We have a rather lovely cat called Happy, who would be unhappy if we got a dog. Thankfully I have friends who have dogs and they invite me to join them on their doggy rambles. Which is how I came to be on a Devil’s Punch Bowl dog walk. Walking along the A3, well sort of. Before 2011 the A3 narrowed down to a single carriage way and snaked its way along the rim of the Devil’s Punch Bowl, this led to loooong tailbacks, then a tunnel was dug leaving cars free to whoosh on past to Portsmouth. Once the Hindhead tunnel was open the old road was dug up, six years down the line it is hard to believe that this used to be the main Portsmouth – London road.
You don’t have to have a dog to walk here but we would have been the only people sat outside the National Trust Devil’s Punch Bowl cafe without one. The National Trust have waymarked six walks over Hindhead Commons and the Devil’s Punch Bowl ranging from a short stroll to a six mile hike up and down some pretty steep slopes. We set off following the Hidden Hindhead Trail, but chatted too much missed the signs and lost the trail. No matter we found our way back with time for a coffee and had so great views over the Punch Bowl itself.
HOW DID THE DEVIL’S PUNCH BOWL GET ITS NAME?
Good question and one to which there are several answers. One version has it that the Devil was angry that so many churches were being built in Sussex so he set about building a channel to the sea that would flood the area, his handy work is now known as Devil’s Dyke behind Brighton. When he got the village of Poynings he was disturbed by a cock crowing and assuming that dawn was about to break he leapt into Surrey and created the Devil’s Punch Bowl. Or if you would prefer the Devil liked to hurl lumps of earth at the god Thor (the nearby village of Thursday means Thor’s Place); the Punch Bowl is the indentation left when Devil scooped out a handful of earth. Another tale doesn’t involve the Devil but a pair of battling giants. One giant scooped up a fistful of earth to chuck at the other creating the Punch Bowl and hurled it at the other, he missed and the land became the Isle of Wight.
HOW DO GEOLOGISTS THINK THAT THE DEVIL’S PUNCH BOWL WAS MADE?
Modern Geologists have an all together more rational explanation. The geology of the Surrey Sussex border is one of sandstone standing on top of a clay layer, it is probable that underground springs led to the erosion of the bowl shaped depression.
DEVIL’S PUNCH BOWL MAP
DEVILS’S PUNCH BOWL NEED TO KNOW
- London Road, Hindhead, Surrey GU26 6AB
- National Trust car park is open dawn to dusk, £4 or free to National Trust members
- National Trust cafe open daily 9am – 5pm
- Toilets open when the cafe is open.
- Dogs are welcome but may need to be on the lead when birds are breeding or livestock are grazing
Did you get out and about in the sunshine this week?
This is a lovely stretch of public open land in Surrey, the views up there are amazing.
Author
It is, not the Surrey that I imagined before I moved there!
So interesting to find out more about it. It does look like a beautiful place to walk
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The views are amazing too
I used to drive the old road occasionally and while I knew about the new one replacing it I had no idea it had been closed altogether. I certainly wouldn’t miss the traffic and I guess the upside is it now allows for a pleasant walk.
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Hindhead is a place transformed
We’ve got some dog jogs and many pooch parties but yours sounds like a wonderful trail. I like the explanation of the devil throwing dirt clumps at Thor.
Author
I like the mash up of Norse and Christian belief in that one
Hi Catherine, I much prefer the ‘fictional’ ways Devils Punch Bowl may have got it’s name, they are much more fun. It does look a lovely area to walk.
xx
Author
It is beautiful, still trying to get my head round the fact that we were walking along the road in which I have spent many hours in traffic jams!
What a fantastic place. I’m sure we stopped there on a school trip once, although I only remember the name and not much else about it. Glad you got to share a dog so you weren’t left out 🙂 #MySundayPhoto
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Lucky you we only ever used to get to stop at Red Lodge or Baldock!
I have been tot the edge of the Devil’s Punchbowl on one occasion. Your images definitely do it justice Catherine. Loving the explanations although I will go with sandstone on clay. Seems that tiny bit more feasible!
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Maybe but I’m pretty sure those giants were hurling boulders and thunderbolts in North Surrey last night
A lovely place to walk and enjoy the views. I think I might give it a visit
Thank you for linking up to #MySundayPhoto
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You could go via the Devil’s Dyke!
Some good views on that walk. It’s funny how dog ownership has become so widespread. We don’t have one either. #mysundayphoto
What a beautiful dog walk. That looks like a wonderful place to visit and walk about. Gorgeous views xx
I love all the ancient legends trying to make sense of unusual landscapes. Wonder why they’re so often blamed on dark forces when they are such beautiful areas? Sounds like a lovely walk out with your dog friends! Does your cat travel? We’ve just got a rescue kitten and a friend is suggesting we buy it a harness for our outdoor lifestyle… doesn’t seem right to me though! #farawayfiles
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My cat likes to travel only when he is in charge, if it involves his sumptuous cat carrier he is uninterested!
It might be something we have to try. I think the little kitty might enjoy riding in our camper though she’s already giving us the impression she likes to be in charge too!
Love the Viking influence on local lore – says the girl who lives in Scandinavia! Actually though, when I first read “Devil’s Punchbowl” I thought of a spot on the Oregon Coast where the water churns in the rocks. This looks slightly more idyllic and safe! Thanks for sharing with #FarawayFiles
We are allergic to dogs in out family, but my younger son loves to walk other people’s dogs, so he would love this! I much prefer the legends to the science. A lot more fun to think of the devil hurling a giant scoop of earth at Thor! #farawayfiles
Author
Walking other people’s dogs is the best of both worlds. You get to be outside with a purpose, have no poop to scoop and get to wave goodbye to the hound at the end!
Hmm, interesting stuff! We had a walk ourselves this week, sans-dog I might add, to the limestone way in Derbyshire Dales which was equally as interesting from a geological point of view. My calf muscles are still burning 😉 #farawayflies
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Nice, we’ve walked the Dovedale part in the past… also sans dog
Love the stories behind the Devil’s Punch Bowl’s name!
#FarawayFiles
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I’m a sucker for a naming myth!