Wistman's Wood
An ancient grove of stunted oaks draped in moss, with twisted trunks growing among boulders. It is considered a surviving remnant of England's temperate rainforest.
Wistman's Wood is one of only three remaining ancient upland oak woods on Dartmoor. It sits on a slope about 400 metres up in the West Dart valley. Small, gnarled sessile oaks grow out of granite boulders covered in moss and lichen. On foggy days it looks like a scene from a fairy tale or a fantasy film. The wood is a National Nature Reserve. It is a 2.5-kilometre walk (40 minutes one way) along the river valley path from the Two Bridges car park.
To protect the moss, do not climb over the boulders inside the wood. Enjoy it from the edge paths only. The paths are often muddy, so wear waterproof walking boots.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Princetown & Dartmoor Prison Museum
- Postbridge Clapper Bridge
- Bellever Forest & Tor
- Merrivale Prehistoric Settlement
- Dartmeet
- Burrator Reservoir
- Grimspound
- Widecombe-in-the-Moor