Hindhead Common and Devils Punch Bowl

The Devil’s Punch Bowl is a dramatic natural amphitheatre - a steep-sided valley scooped into the Surrey heathland that is unlike anything else in the South East. The walk drops into the bowl and back up, with views across a wide sweep of heath that feels genuinely remote despite being an hour from central London. This is National Trust land with a visitor centre and cafe at the Hindhead car park.The terrain is open heathland with sandy and gravelled paths. Some sections are steep, particularly around the bowl rim. The paths can be soft after prolonged rain but drain reasonably well. Late summer - August and September - is the best time for heather, when the heath turns a deep purple. Spring and autumn are also excellent.

The Devil's Punch Bowl is a dramatic natural amphitheatre - a steep-sided valley scooped into the Surrey heathland that is unlike anything else in the South East.

Dogs can be off lead across most of the heath. The area is managed for ground-nesting birds between March and August, so check any seasonal notices at the car park. The varied terrain - open heath, woodland edges, steep gradients - makes this more interesting than a flat park circuit of the same length.