Returning with the water

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

Charles
carries
water back
from the
weir

"I'll
sweat it out"
Fenton to Charles

Having collected water from the weir, Charles makes his way back up the snow-covered hillside to tend to the feverish Fenton, at his half-way house.

The scene
close by
'Fenton's
half-way
house'

March 2003

The scene
in Spring
— with
Mad Dog prop
visible!
See below

May 1999

Description: Charles makes his way back up the hillside close to the courtyard area 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?: The shot is taken close to the front of Air Cottage, looking out over the Dovedale valley. The distinctive peak visible on the left hand side of the frame is Jacob's Ladder — an easy reference point for replicating the position of the original shot.

What about access?: The public footpath which leads past Ilam Tops Farm towards Air Cottage swings to the right of the building, before rejoining the main farm track on the far side of the farm. While many Ilam location shots can only be filmed from private land, this particular shot can be taken from the public footpath. The gate visible in the top photo is for 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 weir from which Charles collects the water is not at the foot of the hill, as suggested in the episode, but many miles to the north in the Monsal valley.

The abandoned and rusting mangle visible in the 1999 photograph above actually appears in the episode! It was a genuine piece of furniture in Air Cottage at the time of filming, and is seen during Charles' search of the premises. See here. It has since been removed — and probably lost forever...

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..  
 

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Page last updated:
02 April 2003