Hindhead Common and the Devil’s Punch Bowl
Legend has it the Devil’s
Punch Bowl was formed when a furious Thor, the God of Thunder, scooped a handful of earth from the ground to hurl at the Devil after he’d been tormenting him. The deep trough left behind is a remarkable sight, as the rough scrub of Hindhead Common gives way to the sloping ridge of the bowl. Spring is a super time to be here, with heather bringing flashes of purple to the common, and crocuses carpeting the forest floor. Trace the Hidden Hindhead
Surrey tour from the National Trust Devil’s Punch Bowl Cafe, and follow the pink waymarkers, looking out for Exmoor ponies and Highland cattle that graze the scrub. Stop off at the Celtic cross at Gibbet Hill, where views stretch as far as London on a clear day.
Stay close by at Yew Tree Cottage, with its open fire and idyllic garden, set beside National Trust heathland.
✣ Sleeps four for seven nights from £455; cottages. com/cottages/yew-treecottage-18535