The Devil's Punch Bowl is a large natural amphitheatre and beauty spot near Hindhead, Surrey, in England, and is the source of many stories about the area. The London to Portsmouth road (the A3) used to climb round its side, but this is now closed due to the Hindhead Tunnel opening on 27 July 2011.The land is now owned and maintained by the National Trust as part of the "Hindhead Commons and the Devil's Punch Bowl" property. Hindhead Youth Hostel is located inside the bowl. The highest point is Gibbet Hill at 282m AOD.EtymologyThe name Devil's Punch Bowl dates from at least 1768, the year that John Rocque's map of the area was published. This was 18 years before the murder of the unknown sailor on Gibbet Hill so this event was clearly not the origin of the name. Prior to 1768 it was marked as "ye Bottom" on a map by John Ogilby dated 1675. The northern end of the Bowl is known as Highcombe Bottom which exists in different variants: Hackombe Bottom, Hacham Bottom and Hackham Bottom. These variants indicate that the pronunciation of the name is "Hay-combe" rather than "High-combe".Natural historyThe soil in this part of Surrey has two layers — an upper layer of sandstone, with clay beneath. This deep depression is believed to be the result of erosion caused by spring water beneath the sandstone, causing the upper level to collapse. With its steep sides, the Devil's Punch Bowl has become a natural nature reserve, filled with heathland, streams and woodland.