Devils Punch Bowl Walk
We have two Devils Punch Bowl walking routes on Hindhead Common, a large area of heathland and woodland located near the village of Hindhead in Surrey. With some 494 acres to explore, the area is managed by the National Trust and provides scenic views and a rich history. This is a great choice if you want good exercise, fresh air and amazing views.
Both our walks cover various historical landmarks. The Devils Punch Bowl is named because of the geological large hollow in the ground formed by erosion, this area has many folklore stories and the ’Devils’ name was probably added because unusual natural formations were considered eerie or mysterious!
Another legend says the hollow was created by the devil when he took a punch in the nearby town of Haselmere!
There are also several historical landmarks in the area, including the remains of an Iron Age hill fort and the iconic Hindhead Tunnel. Gibbet Hill also features in our walk, the original gibbet (hanging post) no longer exists, but there is a stone cross at the summit that marks the spot where it once stood.
Finally, the last notable landmark in our Devils Punch Bowl walk is The Sailor's Stone, a large boulder which has been designated as an Ancient Monument. The Sailor's Stone is believed to date back to around 4000-2000 BCE, and is thought to have been used as a marker or boundary stone by the people of that time.
In summary, if you like a scenic, wildlife rich walk with some interesting and memorable history thrown in, these are the walks for you.
Download the Surrey Walks app to see your position on the Devils Punch Bowl map as you walk.
This is a map for Devils Punch Bowl walk number 1. To get the app, search ‘Surrey Walks’ on your app store or download the iPhone version here or get the Google play version here.
Photo © Colin Smith (cc-by-sa/2.0)
Devils Punch Bowl walk 1
2.25 miles
This is a lovely short stroll around the Hindhead Common and Devil's Punch Bowl. It's not a long walk in terms of distance, but it's packed full of wonderful views and beautiful walking. The map looks like there's a massive road going right through the walk, but that's actually the Hindhead tunnel that passes underneath the common.
Devils Punch Bowl walk 2
5.25 miles
If you have a bit more time and energy for your adventure, then this second route is a much longer walk that fully explores the wonderful Hindhead Common and Devils Punch Bowl. As well as enjoying the multiple viewpoints on offer around Devils Punch Bowl, it actually takes you out of the common to the north for a while as well and enjoys some more standard open countryside walking as well.