Gnarled tree roots covered in lichen appear like fingers reaching towards gaps in the forest canopy, creating an eerie atmosphere that feels like a scene from The Lord of the Rings. Moss covered boulders cover almost every square inch of the forest floor, and the only sounds you’ll hear are that of the resident cuckoo and wind rustling through the trees.
You can either choose to visit the wood using the shortest route which is a return walk; or you can complete a longer loop taking in more of the moors, a beautiful pine forest and a set of picturesque cascades.
Here’s everything you need to know about the trail and tips for visiting Wistman's Wood.
Wistman's Wood
The stats
Distance: 4.2km return (2.6 miles) or 7.6km circuit (4.7 miles)
Elevation gain: 67m short version, 100m circuit version
Difficulty: Easy
The walk to Wistman’s Wood via the quickest route is along a well maintained gravel path for the majority of the way. However, there are rocky sections the closer you get to the forest. The path is predominantly flat.
If you’re completing the circuit walk, you’ll need to traverse a boggy patch of moor and complete an easy stream crossing.
There’s not much in the way of climbing throughout the entire track and no steep sections whatsoever.
The majority of the trail is not signposted, so if you don’t have a map, you will probably want to screenshot our directions, if you’re planning on walking the circuit. On the shorter route you can’t go wrong.
The walk is very exposed to the elements and can get really windy even in summer.
Reaching Wistman's Wood via the shortest route
Whether you plan on taking the shortest route or the circular route, the beginning of the walk will be the same. From the car park, you’ll go through a gate and start heading north, with the river to your left.
You begin on a wide gravel path which is flat and leisurely.
After 600m you’ll pass a farm and head very gently uphill before the path flattens again.
The scenery is gorgeous with expansive views over the moors and plenty of shaggy sheep who will no doubt entertain you with some of their antics.
Roughly 200m later, the path begins to get rocky and rather than gravel, you’ll be walking over a grassy track, which has small sections of mud after rain - it’s easy to navigate around though.
You’ll soon see the wood in the distance, and after another kilometre you’ll be standing right on the edge of the forest (2km into the walk).
Exploring Wistman's Wood
Edit for 2023: there are now signs up to discourage you entering the wood. You can still walk the track and view the wood from the outside, but you can’t venture through it.
Wistman's Wood is a special place, the ancient forest has a dark and mysterious feel which could be straight out of The Lord of the Rings! It’s a photographer’s dream.
However, if you’re keen to see the wood at its best you want to visit on an overcast day.
A cloudy sky gives even light, whereas a sunny day will mean harsh shadows and dappled light - making it hard to see the moss and details in the forest.
We’ve visited in both conditions and there’s no doubt which is the best! If you luck out and manage to visit when there’s a bit of mist or fog it is going to be even more magical.
Wistman’s Wood on an overcast day
Wistman’s Wood on a sunny day
We checked the forecast every day to see whether we might get lucky, but unfortunately it didn’t work out - definitely something to come back for!
In terms of exploring the wood, it does require a fair amount of rock hopping. Although there are patches of dirt in-between the boulders, there is no specific path through the woods.
It’s not difficult to rock hop, but it might not be for everyone.
If you don’t like the sound of it, you can still see the edge of the wood without venturing in - although the most atmospheric experience is definitely wandering through it, so that you are fully surrounded by those incredible trees.
Just remember not to remove or trample on any of the moss as it’s a very delicate environment.
Depending on which route you take, it’s only 100-200m through the woods, but you can easily spend a long time here just taking it all in.
It’s easiest to walk through the wood and then head up to the official trail again, although it looks like there’s a lower track as well, it’s rocky and not as easy to walk on.
Continuing along the circular track
The walk continues on the path above the woods and heads out into the open moorland. At first the trail is good, but as you pass the last patch of trees, you’ll hit a short rocky patch before the track disappears entirely.
This is when - unless you’re very lucky with conditions - you’ll meet the only part of the walk I didn’t enjoy: the bog!
There’s no set route, and you are basically heading through big tufts of grass and trying to work out how deep the water and mud is!
If you’re lucky, you won’t flood your boots. But don’t be surprised if you plunge into a patch that’s ankle deep!
Our route through the boggy area was about 600m long. You might see a better option, but basically you’re heading for the stile by the river, and what looked like a lock. You can roughly see where it is from quite a distance and where you’ll need to cross the stream.
I’m not going to lie: as we were traversing the bog I was wondering why on earth I was doing the longer route, when I’d already seen the highlight of the whole walk. However, the section of track after the river crossing is gorgeous and in the end it was very much worth it!
Following the river
Crossing the stream is a boots off affair, but the stone is very grippy and it’s nice and easy.
You could try and use the rocks to cross if you don’t want to take your boots off, but they looked pretty slippery, so we just crossed at the obvious point on the lock where you could then walk up the steps on the other side.
The path then continues over the small stone ‘bridge’ and curves round so you’re now on the other side of the circuit.
The narrow path now takes you through the moors with the river on your left and a picturesque stream on your right. The next kilometre and a half continues like this and the path is smooth and easy.
It’s a really beautiful part of the walk and probably my favourite section, not counting the wood itself.
After 1.6km you’ll reach a short section of track, which is muddy and eroded, but still straightforward enough.
From here the path is rockier than it’s been to this point, but it’s not difficult - just not quite as relaxing as the smooth track had been.
To the pine forest
Roughly 700m later you’ll come to a brick wall across the little pathway, but you can step around it and continue along the trail.
Up to this point we’d had a ewe and her lamb walking with us the whole way, and this is where we said goodbye! A couple of minutes beyond the wall you’ll reach a pine forest.
It’s shady and stunning, especially as the golden afternoon light shone through.
The next few hundred metres follow the leisurely path through the forest and you’ll then cross a stile, which doesn’t have the usual planks, but instead a couple of stakes in the ground.
It’s ok when dry, but I imagine if walking in winter and there’s any ice around it could be interesting!
You’ll then head beside some farming fields before crossing through the farm itself. You need to follow the signs that say ‘path’.
After passing through the farm, you’ll soon come to a bridge which you cross before taking the track that heads immediately left - again this is signposted.
Finishing the circuit: along the cascades
The path heads downhill for few steps and then you’ll be standing just above Cowsic Falls. It’s only a very small waterfall, but it’s picturesque and flows into a set of cascades.
It creates a series of tiny plunge pools - not big enough to swim, but if it was a hot day you could go for an icy plunge.
It’s perfectly shaded and a lovely spot to have a paddle, surrounded by mossy trees and boulders.
The dirt track continues alongside (but above) the cascades and river, and can be muddy in places, but is generally in good shape.
It’s a peaceful area of woodland and a relatively flat path will take you to a stile and then along a gravel path that leads out to the road just beside the Two Bridges Hotel.
Getting to Wistman's Wood and where to park
The walk to Wistman's Wood begins at Two Bridges, and there’s a small free car park beside the trailhead. There’s only room for around 15 cars which can fill quickly on sunny days. If you can’t nab a space here, then the Two Bridges Hotel has a much larger car park and is just 30 seconds from the trailhead.
Parking here is £5, but it’s refundable on any food or drinks purchase. Two non alcoholic drinks came to almost this exact amount, so it pretty much felt free and it was a nice way to finish the walk.
In terms of location, the trailhead is just under a 20 minute drive from Widecombe in the Moor, 25 minutes from Ashburton and 15 minutes from Tavistock.
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