On Friday morning I had a very enjoyable walk from Prince Hall Hotel to Wistman's Wood with Penny Johnstone and her daughter Jess, who were great company, as is everyone who stays at Prince Hall. Penny particularly wanted to go to Wistman's Wood as she had heard a lot about this place. It's a strange remnant grove of oaks and rowans isolated in the middle of Dartmoor, growing into twisted shapes out of the boulder-strewn hillside and hanging with ferns, mosses and lichens. We walked across Muddilake Newtake to Littaford Tors, then dropped down to the wood and back down the valley to Two Bridges. Conditions were fantastic, with bright sunshine and a warm breeze. The wildlife was quiet, as might be expected given this week's heatwave, but we did hear a Grasshopper Warbler reeling in the gorse south of the wood, and see a Wheatear, plenty of Skylarks and a Golden-ringed Dragonfly. There were also crystal clear views across the central basin and down to the southern moor. The only sounds were the wind and the whinnying of wild ponies.
Here are some pictures from the walk.
Highland cow in Muddilake Newtake.
Jess at the north eastern edge of Wistman's Wood.
The view in from the edge of the wood.
Wistman's Wood from the south.
Longaford Tor, looking from Littaford Tor. The cone of Longaford is a distinctive landmark visible from many places in the central area of Dartmoor.
Penny and Jess on Littaford Tor.
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