Wistman's Wood — Attraction in West Devon

'WISTMANS WOOD'.

This ancient wood is supposedly haunted? Though having visited the area several times, well you decide?

'OAK TREES' do not grow at higher altitudes, so these ancient specimens are 'DWARFED' in size and stature, covered in 'LICHENS and MOSSES' due to their sheltered position.

'MOORLAND BIRDS' love this wood.

'BEARDOWN TORS' are not far away, and you can see the wood from up there, with dramatic views to other 'TORS'.

Walking over from 'PRINCETOWN', river crossings are few. In fact, I only found one, with the surrounding marsh land being very 'WET'.

Man made channels, 'LEIS', appear to climb up the terrain on the river side of 'BEARDOWN TORS'.

If you walk over from 'BELLEVER' you face a steep climb, but you you will be rewarded with scenic views back to 'BELLEVER WOODS'.

Most of 'DARTMOOR' was as wooded as this. Its miles from any where, with an indescribable ambient quietness most people have not found before, and you might not see any one.

A large commemorative stone can be found in the woods.

Watch out for 'THE FLAGS', at 'BEARDOWN TORS' as this area is sometimes used by 'THE MILITARY'.

Staying late to watch a beautiful 'SUNSET', I left 'WISTMANS WOOD' in near darkness. So take a torch, just in case and a bottle of water, your mobile phone..

Watch out for the Dartmoor...

There isn't too much I can say about Wistmans wood that hasn't already been said. It is alot smaller than it looks on Google maps, the wood portion of the reserve at least, it's about 1 mile in from the road, I recommend getting there early to find a parking spot as otherwise you will have to park up at the two bridges hotel which charge for a couple of hours parking which restricts your time in the area. If you are going with friends, share a car, more likely to get one space than two.

It is a great place for photography, I imagine as the seasons and the light changes you can get some stunning shots through the year.

It's a little gem, moss covered trees and stones, a small driver below, it is a very peaceful place aside from the occasional sound of a car over a cattle grid in the distance and sheep there wasn't much sound at all. Slightly eerie. But that was part of the appeal to me of the woods, the eeriness! Will definitely be going back, hopefully in the spring when we can catch some light morning mist off the river.

Lovely walk for anyone of any walking ability, I'm 21 stone, unfit and have a bad back but I still made it there and back. You can too! And if not well the view on the way there is beautiful so getting halfway and back isn't a bad...

My wife found Wistman's Wood in a book of Dartmoor walks and I'm very glad she did. We set off on the walk from the quarry car park. The car park is very small so get there reasonably early. It started to rain as we headed onto the moor so I was prepared for another Dartmoor soaking (I'm from Yorkshire so I'm used to this sort of thing) but the rain didn't come down that heavily while we walked to the wood. Once we got there we found a magical ancient wood, dripping with moss, lichen and ferns. The trees were fantastical - warped, gnarled and twisted - and the ground littered with large boulders. It was difficult going but well worth the effort to wander round somewhere that really felt enchanted. It's not a large wood but nor is it a little copse. I strongly recommend it if that's your bag. My wife and I absolutely loved it. As we emerged from the wood back onto the moor, the sun started to shine and we walked up to Longaford Tor back down the moor along a chain of progressively smaller tors. I live in Yorkshire near a famous moor on which I spend a lot of time. I have loved the moors of Northern England and Scotland all my life. I haven't known Dartmoor for long but I'm already in love. I can't wait...