Confronting the rabid Fenton

Mad Dog > Locations > Derbyshire > Ilam > Fenton's half-way house >

Charles
throws
water
over the
distraught
Fenton

Charles throws the water over the anguished Fenton

"You maniac — it's rabies!"
Sanders to Charles

 

Sanders, Jim and Charles return to the halfway house, where they discover Fenton now in the full throws of rabid dementia. As Fenton lunges at Sanders, Charles throws the river water over him. After a struggle — Fenton is first wounded and then shot dead. Sanders' attention immediately turns to Charles, and an interrogation begins, as Sanders and Jim decide Charles' own fate.

The yard
in front of
'Fenton's
half-way
house'

The scene in March 2002

March 2002

 

Description: The sequence takes place in the courtyard in front of 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?: 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?: This sequence is filmed by a number of cameras mounted around the courtyard in front of Air Cottage.

What about access?: The public footpath which leads past Ilam Tops Farm towards Air Cottage swings to the right of Air Cottage, before rejoining the main farm track on the far side of the farm. While it is possible to take many Ilam location shots from public pathways, this particular shot is taken on farm property with the permission of the owners.

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 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. Several other sequences are filmed in the same area in front of Air Cottage — including Fenton's fevered wanderings; and Charles pulling the bound and unconscious Fenton back towards the house.  
 

Mad Dog > Locations > Derbyshire > Ilam > Fenton's half-way house >  
 
 
 

Page last updated:
02 April 2003