Devil's Jumps, Churt
The Devil’s Jumps are three small hills near the village of Churt in Surrey, southern England. In the 18th century they were called the Devil’s Three Jumps.
The western hill, High Jump, is the highest at about 413 feet (126 meters). The middle hill, Middle Devil’s Jump, reaches about 328 feet (100 meters and once held an observatory built by the 19th‑century astronomer Richard Christopher Carrington). The eastern hill, Stony Jump, stands at about 394 feet (120 meters).
Geology and landscape: The hills are outcrops of an ironstone sandstone known locally as carstone, part of the Folkestone Beds of Lower Greensand, set in acidic heathland. The stone is strongly cemented with iron, which makes the hills resistant to erosion.
History and names: The first known mention of the Devil’s Jumps is on a map by John Rocque from 1765. William Cobbett wrote about them in Rural Rides (1830), describing three hills like squat sugar-loaves with a rock on top of one as big as a church tower.
Folklore: The Jumps are linked to local landmarks such as Mother Ludlam’s Cave near the ruins of Waverley Abbey, the Devil’s Punch Bowl at Hindhead, Thursley, and Frensham church. A popular tale says the Devil liked leaping from hill to hill, until Thor threw a rock at him, leaving the boulder at the Devil’s Jumps. The story likely originated in the area and was later linked to Thor as a pagan god; a version with Thor appears in early 20th‑century retellings.
Height and ranking notes: High Jump sits at about 126 meters above sea level. The three Jumps are among the higher Surrey Hills, and they appear in lists of notable hills in the county.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 07:45 (CET).