Wistman’s Wood is like a fairytale scene. Nestling in a moorland cleft, the atmospheric dwarf oak woodland is filled with jumbled boulders and everything is covered in thick and otherworldly moss. Ghostly green drapes hang from the trees and serpentine roots tangle together dramatically. Any moment you could imagine a fairy flying past. Most likely a leftover from the ancient forest that covered Dartmoor around 7000 BC, the eerie and enchanting woodland is a genuine journey back in time.

Due to the large boulders and twisted roots, there is no path per se and you will need to be game for a little scrambling. Once inside, the all-consuming air of magic and wonder is undeniable.

Dominiek Van Dooren

October 14, 2022

A mysterious forest? It seems like. You better not visit this under a bright sun. With some fog and on a drizzly day, this oak forest full of large stones covered with all kinds of mosses will seem mysterious.

Translated by Google •

David

April 30, 2018

These Ancient Oak woodlands are steeped in folklore and gave rise to Sherlock Holme's Hounds of Baskerville. Spend a night if the woods if you dare! Realistically there is nowhere to sleep in the woods as the woodland is established in a boulder field but it is still worth a visit in the dark!

Another similar woodland is found in the North West corner of Dartmoor called Black-a-Tor Copse near Meldon Reservoir.

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Elevation 400 m

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Sunday 19 October

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Max wind speed: 26.0 km/h

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Location: Dartmoor Forest, West Devon, Devon, South West England, England, United Kingdom

Wistman's Wood

1. Wistman's Wood & Beardown Tor loop from Two Bridges

2. Wistman's Wood – Longaford Tor loop from Princetown

3. Postbridge Clapper Bridge – Bellever Tor loop from Postbridge

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