Hell Bottom and Hell Stones Walk
On the day that marked the beginning of the 4th heatwave of the year, 13 Mileaters and 2 dogs set out to walk to hell and back. Starting at Smitten Corner we walked across the fields to the abandoned farmhouse at Hell Bottom. This was used as a location for the 1967 film ‘Far from the Madding Crowd’. The house was restored and then returned to dereliction after filming was completed. This prompted much reminiscing of Julie Christie and her various film roles, Alan Bates and Terence Stamp only getting a brief mention.
We proceeded across the sheep fields towards Corton Hill, pausing to look at the panoramic views to the south. A short climb took us onto the ridge giving simultaneous sightings of St. Catherine’s Chapel at Abbotsbury and Hardy’s Monument. We then followed the ridge west until we stopped for coffee at Portesham Quarry. Here we rested and admired the views and the dinosaur sculpture by Joe Rush, made from old farm machinery. A few folks went in search of the fossilised tree sheath which gives the quarry its alternative name, Rocket Quarry.
The second half of our walk saw us on a gentle but long climb past Portesham Farm and along the lane back towards Hardy’s Monument. Turning left just over the brow of the hill we made our way across a field to the Hell Stone. This dolmen is a re-constructed Neolithic burial chamber carried out in 1866.
We returned to the cars at Smitten Corner by the footpath below Hardy’s Monument making the most of what little shade the trees offered, completing our hot, 5.4 mile circuit with red faces and empty water bottles.
A welcome cool drink and lunch at the Brewers Arms was our reward for a good morning’s walk.
Martin Fitzgerald
