We’re lucky we have so many National Trust sites so close to us. Recently we’ve checked out Abinger Roughs, Clandon Park and Witley & Milford Commons.
Hindhead Commons and the Devil’s Punch Bowl is designated as an area of outstanding natural beauty.
Even after a heavy downpour you could admire the dramatic skyline and panoramic views across the Punch Bowl. The sandstone viewing platform provided the perfect place to stand, breathe in the country air and enjoy the colourful landscape.
We chose to have a sandwich there so we could take it all in. This was the moment POD noticed the sandwiches contained a little mild mustard – she’d already eaten one before she realised!
We’d not been to the Devil’s Punch Bowl before so after the energy boost, we set about exploring the nearby pathways. POD took full advantage of the muddy puddles by wading through all those she came across. There was so much to discover made all the more wonderful by the sun which emerged as the black clouds dispersed.
Having discovered the woodland we headed across an open heathland, the sun providing us with a glimpse of how magical the Commons and Devil’s Punch Bowl must be in the Summer months. It’s a site of special scientific interest and you can really appreciate why as you enjoy the surroundings.
Having stopped for POD to ask a statue a few questions, we headed along another beautiful heathland. POD wanted to take the boggy route rather than the concrete path so she could wade through the puddles and long grass. She kept her balance perfectly throughout!
Round the corner we spotted several wild ponies in a field. POD was almost beside herself with excitement at such an unexpected sight.
We stood on a grass bank for a time watching them graze on nearby foliage and then pass by when the rain drops returned.
A huge black cloud had appeared overhead so we knew it was time to leave, another storm was definitely brewing. It was wonderful we got to experience the Devil’s Punch Bowl though, it’s a fantastic location.
As well as the beautiful slopes, there’s still so much more to discover including a natural amphitheatre and fantastic views across the weald at the top of Gibbet Hill. Not to mention finding out about the granite cross that helped dispel local fears that the hill was haunted by highwayman ghosts!
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It looks like you had such a nice day and the scenery looks wonderful. I went cycling around Clumber Park recently, another lovely National Trust place in Nottinghamshire. We are very lucky with our countryside here in the UK and we do have some amazing sights to see.
What a lovely blog you have. 🙂
Thank you very much Donna. We were so lucky, it poured before we got there then and started again just before we left! There are some wonderful National Trust properties in the UK 🙂
Sounds like a great day and you are very brave having a picnic this time of year! Lovely photos as always!
Thank you! It was only a sandwich, far too cold to loiter for too long 🙂
You and POD go on the BEST walks! And in this episode she spotted a horsey! Love the hat ; )
I wish you all the best in the MADS. you definately get my vote for best photography!
Thank you so so much! Was a great walk, we certainly weren’t expecting to see horses 🙂
You managed to catch some beautiful sunshine in between the downpours! The photographs are stunning, I particularly love the ponies. Good luck in the MADS xx
Thank you Kirsty – we were so lucky with the weather. Those ponies were beautiful 🙂
Gorgeous pics – I LOVE the look on POD’s face when she realises what’s in her sandwich, and the shot of the tree-covered path…beautiful.
Thank you very much. You should see the photo of POD when she put that bit of sandwich in her mouth! She had already had lunch as well – cheeky monkey 🙂
Sounds like a great day, nice to get out after the awful weather we’ve been having!
Very true Kate, we go a bit stir crazy if we don’t get out at the weekend I think 🙂
Oh this makes me kind of miss Berkshire and the surrounding area. We had friends that lived near hear and we loved visiting
It really is a wonderful area. We love being in Surrey but it’s great Berkshire is so close. We have even more NT properties to explore 🙂
What a lovely trip. I haven’t visited there for years but your photos make me really want to go back!
You really should Jenny, it’s beautiful there. We were so lucky with the weather but we’ll most certainly be back, so much more to explore 🙂
Such stunning photos.The pictures of the ponies are amazing. I live in a beautiful area, I’m going to have to get my camera into action to try and capture it.
You really should Louisa, I love nothing more than getting fresh air but also photographing my surroundings 🙂
The photos are just excellent. And you had some sunshine 🙂
Thank you so much, we were very lucky the rain stopped as we arrived 🙂
Oh it looks beautiful there! And I’ve told you before how much I love POD’s coat!
It really is Helen, wonderful landscape. I look forward to spending more time there. There’s a lot of love for POD’s coat 🙂
Wow wild ponies!! I particularly like the close up head shot pony. Just beautiful!
Thank you very much, they were beautiful 🙂
Muddy walks are such fun aren’t they. I hope to get in a few with the kiddies this half term.
We love muddy walks! You really must do some next week, so much fun 🙂
Another stunning post. We need to get out more!
Thank you very much Emily – you really must 🙂
Wow what a beautiful place to be so near to – and the pony! We were in the New Forest a couple of years back and it was lovely seeing them roam free. x
How fabulous – the New Forest is wonderful. We were talking about staying there at some point, beautiful location. Loving the pony 🙂
That Pony is sooooo cute. It all looks a bit battered by the weather doesn’t it, although Pod doesn’t seem bothered
We arrived just after a bout of monsoon rain – still looked beautiful though. POD is quite happy wading through mud and puddles, she loves it 🙂
Such a beautiful place, the views look absolutely gorgeous. We have been planning to go for a big walk when the weather improves now we live in the country. These pictures make me want to step outside right now!
You really should get out Jenni – as long as it’s not pouring it’s the best thing getting some fresh air. We love it 🙂
What a lovely day you hard – and it looks just beautiful – even in the winter!
It really is Michelle, wonderful location 🙂
*had
i used to live nearby here, and we’d always drive past on the way to my nans!
It’s a fabulous place to visit, we will be back there for sure. We’re working our way round all the NT properties local to us 🙂
Lovely post… my parents took me lots when I was younger but have never taken the boys! Have never, ever come across wild ponies there either! amazing! x
POD absolutely loved the wild ponies – I think because they took us by surprise. They were wonderful too, beautiful creatures. You should definitely take the boys when it’s dryer!
Lovely photos! I’ve not been there before but it looks like a beautiful place to visit. I’m glad you got to enjoy your picnic and that you missed the rain!x
Thank you very much. Devil’s Punch Bowl is a fabulous place to visit, we were so lucky with the rain!
Gosh that looks beautiful! Your daughter always looks so cute! xx
Aww thank you. It really is beautiful there, fabulous spot 🙂
Stunning photos as ever Charly 🙂 I love the Devils Punchbowl – I used to be up there all the time when I lived in Guildford xx
Not surprised Vicky, it’s amazing. Can’t wait to go again 🙂
wow looks amazing! x
Thank you Fritha 🙂
Oh, this wild pony looks beautiful. I wish I could see him up close like this
Thank you, the ponies were just beautiful 🙂
Lovely photos as ever…. what a lovely surprise to discover that pony, and I love that green polka dot hat on POD. X
Thank you Sarah. The hat is great isn’t it – she actually keeps it on most of the time too, bonus! It was amazing seeing the ponies, totally unexpected 🙂
stunning photos as always. looks a beautiful spot
Thank you Becky, it’s a wonderful spot – so looking forward to going back 🙂
You timed your walk perfectly. Your photos are beautiful. I’m a little in awe that you had a picnic outside. I think if we had tried recently, we’d either end up with soggy sandwiches or the wind would whisk them away. #CountryKids
We so did Cheryl, we would have been caught if I’d not been driving around looking for a petrol garage! We only had a sandwich outside, it was clear by then but still nippy. It was nice we got to have a good walk, see the horses then make a dash back to the car when the rain re-appeared 🙂
Another beautiful place to see with stunning views. Gorgeous photos too! #countrykids
Thank you very much Kriss, it is wonderful there. We’ll definitely be back 🙂
I just love the name-anything with ‘Devil’ in it appeals to me! The look on Pod’s face when she’s eating the sandwich is fantastic-my daughter round have sniffed out the mustard before it even touched her lips!
Hehe! POD was hilarious with the sandwich. She’d already eaten lunch, ate half my sandwich then realised there was mustard in it. Only a little and it was very mild but such a funny face 🙂
You do have some very special time out with Pod. She always looks such a thoughtful and happy child. I did worry for the beautiful coat when she decided to take the muddy route! Thanks for linking up with Country Kids and I do hope you do well in the MAD nominations.
Thank you Fiona. We do get out at the weekend when we can, I crave that fresh air! It’s incredible to think she’s not ended up in a puddle yet. Her balance is much better now she’s older though 🙂
Wow I don’t think I’ve ever seen wild ponies, he’s a very handsome chap isn’t he? Looks like a very beautiful walk.
They were in fabulous shape the wild ponies, such a great sight too. It was a beautiful walk, so glad we missed the rain 🙂
Can I tell you my story from about The Devil’s Punchbowl? My new boyfriend at the time was at college nearby and I was to go and pick him up to take him to visit my parents for the first time. It was snowing and he and his friends were sledging at The Devil’s Punchbowl only he took rather a bad tumble and afterwards found sitting rather hard. So I had to introduce this rather upstanding young man to my parents who refused to sit down for long and who then had to explain it was because he had been tobogganing down rather steep slopes! Oh and that boyfriend – he’s now my husband! Oh and I *love* POD’s face when she realises she has mustard in her sandwich. Hope she gets to like it – it’s something I can’t still can’t stand!
Oh Rosie what a wonderful story – you must have smiled when you opened this post! Sounds like it was a memorable first visit to meet your parents. A good one though! I’m not a big mustard fan either, unless it’s super mild as this one was 🙂
Such lovely photos. I wouldn’t be impressed with mustard in my sandwich though!
Thank you Laura. It was funny as she’d already eaten one sandwich (and had lunch before that!). It was only a little mild mustard but even so, a bit of a shock 🙂
It looks like a very picturesque location yet very peaceful. How lovely to discover the ponies x
#countrykids
It really is a wonderful location Emma, I can’t wait to go back when the weather improves. Loved seeing the ponies, they were just lovely 🙂
An, one I know! I’ve been there because I took a class of children to the PGL site next door! It’s a wonderful location.
Nipping over from Country Kids.
Brilliant I’m so glad I’ve written about somewhere you’ve been to! How wonderful being in that location, it’s just beautiful there. I can’t wait to go again when it’s a little drier 🙂
Wow! I think I could spend a lot of time exploring here!
There is so much to explore here Sarah, I can’t wait until we can do that. Just need that rain to stay away 🙂
That looks absolutely beautiful. POD is a lucky girl going to all these amazing places. How lucky to see wild ponies, that must have been very exciting! Gorgeous photos as always xx #CountryKids
It’s a beautiful location Sara, will be great to explore it further. Amazing seeing the horses, we weren’t expecting to see those at all – POD was very excited about seeing those!
[…] This photograph was taken at the Devil’s Punch Bowl – an area of outstanding natural beauty. We enjoyed panoramic views, much puddle splashing and even saw a field of wild horses. This is the moment POD realised there was mustard in Mummy’s ham sandwich! You can see more photographs here. […]
Good on you for achieving a picnic in February! #CountryKids
It was just a sandwich but we got to take in the wonderful views while we ate it though. A fabulous location 🙂
Love visiting your blog, your photos are always amazing. Looks like another lovely location x
You’re so kind, thank you very much 🙂
I remember driving past the devils punch bowl as a child and thinking my day had made up the name. Lovely photos #CountryKids
Oh goodness it looks lovely! So jealous you spotted wild ponies. You really are lucky being surrounded by such beauty.
A fab read, looks like POD had lots of fun popping over from countrykids
[…] become experts at second guessing the weather in our quest for fresh air. Recently we visited the Devil’s Punch Bowl and the rain stopped just as we arrived. It was worth the risk, we were greeted with panoramic […]
You are so lucky to have so many National Trust places nearby – I was only looking through the handbook at the weekend, ruing the fact we have nothing really nearby. Devil’s Punchbowl looks as stunning as the many others you’ve visited. But the wild ponies are a magical addition!
Thank you so much for linking up darling! I love her little hat xxxx
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