Hiding in the rocky gully

Mad Dog > Locations > Ilam > Rocky gully >

Charles
drops into
cover,
and out
of sight

"If he's bleeding, the dogs will get him..."
Sanders to Jim

Wounded and now on foot, Charles hides from his pursuers, sliding out of sight into a rocky gully, and pressing himself against the rockface as Sanders and Jim pass just overhead.

The gully
close to
Air
Cottage

May 2007

Charles
hides
as Jim and
Sanders
pass by

"...then we've got another big outbreak"
Sanders to Jim

Inside
the gully
behind
Air Cottage

May 2007

Description: The small gully into which Charles drops is located close behind Air Cottage — an isolated farm house (still a working farm, and now offering a bed and breakfast service) near the village of Ilam in Derbyshire.

Where is it?: To reach the gully, follow the public footpath sign leading off to the right, and through a gate, just before Air Cottage (approaching from the Ilam rather than the Dovedale side). Follow the footpath beneath and behind Air Cottage to arrive at the gully. Care must be taken on this narrow and rocky pathway.

Air Cottage is located high above the Dovedale gorge, close to the village of Ilam. It is accessible via a number of public footpaths (marked on Ordnance Survey maps of the area) and from a track leading off the road between Ilam and Alstonfield. The entrance to the track (which begins with a cattlegrid) is located on the right hand side near the brow of the first hill after leaving Ilam. The track passes Ilam Tops Farm (Ellen and Ron's Farm) before reaching Air Cottage.

Where's the best vantage point?: The shot is taken from the public footpath looking towards the gully.

What about access?: While many Ilam location shots can only be filmed from private land, this particular shot can be taken from the public footpath.

The owners of Air Cottage have always been very accommodating to Survivors fans, but they do ask, as a courtesy, that visiting fans check with them (in advance or on the day) if they wish to take photographs on farm property. For contact details for Air Cottage, click here. There are public footpaths criss-crossing the area around Ilam and Dovedale, but these should be checked closely to avoid trespassing on private land. It is advisable to carry an OS map when visiting these locations.

Anything else?: The close-up shots of Charles hiding against the rock face, and of Jim and Sanders passing-by overhead were filmed within the gully — an area now overgrown and strewn with debris.

This location was confirmed by fans during the Mad Dog 2003 visit, on April 25.

The very limited parking at Air Cottage is private, and prior permission should be sought before making use of it. Alternatively, park in Ilam and approach the area on foot. The walk from the centre of Ilam is a fairly steep 30-40 minute climb - either by following the road uphill or (for those comfortable using OS maps) taking one of the footpaths up over the fields.

Mad Dog > Locations > Ilam > Rocky gully > 
 
 
 

Page last updated:
22 June 2007