Wistmans wood

[Roadkillphil]

I first saw Wistmans wood here http://www.naturalbushcraft.co.uk/resources/wistmans-wood-on-dartmoor.html and then Ash was kind enough to give me a copy of the full film entitled Dartmoor. It's a BBC Natural World episode narrated by Satish Kumar. It's a relaxing watch and I enjoyed the phylosophies of Satish Kumar.
This got me thinking of a visit to the woods in the future, then after a conversation with Matt about his wishes to go to Wistmans wood, cogs started whirring in my head.
With some last minute hastily put together plans we set off with Ash to Dartmoor on Friday afternoon.

After nailing a Pasty each we set off on foot north up the valley of the West Dart river. It's a coupla miles trek to the woods and we had to slow down our excited pace to take in the views and the moorland air. Halfway to the woods we were welcomed by the song of a cuckoo from the other side of the valley, so we stopped awhile to see if we could spot it. This put a grin on all our faces and set the tone for the whole trip :D

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3277/5698846342_13069490a1.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/5698846342/)
Listening to cuckoo song (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/5698846342/) by roadkillphil (http://www.flickr.com/people/7904270@N07/), on Flickr

Looking up the valley from here, you can see the woods hugging the east side of the valley just by the river. Our first peek Wistmans Wood :D

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2758/5699496923_a0217011a6.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/5699496923/)
Wistmans wood, off in the distance (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/5699496923/) by roadkillphil (http://www.flickr.com/people/7904270@N07/), on Flickr

With growing anticipation we marched on and eventually came to the south end of the woods. We pushed in a little bit and settled down for a brew and our first good look at this special place. This is the view from here.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3019/5698819752_784dd984b9.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/5698819752/)
Wood of the wiseman (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/5698819752/) by roadkillphil (http://www.flickr.com/people/7904270@N07/), on Flickr

So, we stashed the packs and went for a proper explore. The woods have a curious stillness about them. A peaceful sense of reverence permeates the air and every tree is dripping with age and indeed mosses and ferns. Here' a few pics of what we found.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2188/5698902722_6d7a3513b8.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/5698902722/)
Pagan grove (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/5698902722/) by roadkillphil (http://www.flickr.com/people/7904270@N07/), on Flickr

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3348/5698907950_3835f2514a.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/5698907950/)
Ancient oak (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/5698907950/) by roadkillphil (http://www.flickr.com/people/7904270@N07/), on Flickr

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2670/5698323737_9f28fbd99d.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/5698323737/)
Epiphytic life (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/5698323737/) by roadkillphil (http://www.flickr.com/people/7904270@N07/), on Flickr

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3162/5698835404_e178553920.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/5698835404/)
Very old oak (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/5698835404/) by roadkillphil (http://www.flickr.com/people/7904270@N07/), on Flickr

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2175/5698295433_1af1bb4d10.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/5698295433/)
Gnarly (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/5698295433/) by roadkillphil (http://www.flickr.com/people/7904270@N07/), on Flickr

Every turn and every step revealed new and curious wonders, and we negotiated the moss strewn boulders in all but awestruck silence.
So after a good look around we setup camp nearby and settled down with steak sandwiches (nice one Ash) sloe gin (nice one Matt) mead, sweet peach in my pipe and an awe inspiring lightning show.

It was barely first light when our alarm clock woke us - a Cuckoo giving it large very very close by :D Bleddy 'ansome!
Once up and packed we headed into the woods again and absorbed the myriad wonders of the place.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2337/5698277611_e1f932013a.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/5698277611/)
Mossy stump (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/5698277611/) by roadkillphil (http://www.flickr.com/people/7904270@N07/), on Flickr

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2401/5698880006_b617c2aa54.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/5698880006/)
? Research needed (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/5698880006/) by roadkillphil (http://www.flickr.com/people/7904270@N07/), on Flickr

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3572/5698874710_ec7277e3d4.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/5698874710/)
Bilberry (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/5698874710/) by roadkillphil (http://www.flickr.com/people/7904270@N07/), on Flickr

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3133/5698839946_b37a77a2ca.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/5698839946/)
Lichen micro forest (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/5698839946/) by roadkillphil (http://www.flickr.com/people/7904270@N07/), on Flickr

Matt and Ash introduced me to wood sorrel, a hansome woodland edible that tastes of apple peel :)

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5224/5698255189_1b3b565750.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/5698255189/)
Wood sorrel (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/5698255189/) by roadkillphil (http://www.flickr.com/people/7904270@N07/), on Flickr

As you can see, all manner of mosses, ferns and plants grow on the ancient oak. here is a rowen growing on an oak.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2773/5698890846_7f2acfa5f7.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/5698890846/)
Rowen growing on an oak (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/5698890846/) by roadkillphil (http://www.flickr.com/people/7904270@N07/), on Flickr

Ash even had some moss growing on him!

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5108/5698885398_0c1aa22ca5.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/5698885398/)
Old mans beard (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/5698885398/) by roadkillphil (http://www.flickr.com/people/7904270@N07/), on Flickr

And we found this curious bone, but could'nt identify it!!!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3638/5698823308_ced017f9ac.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/5698823308/)
SheWee! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/5698823308/) by roadkillphil (http://www.flickr.com/people/7904270@N07/), on Flickr

We then went for a wander up river to the start of the Devonport leat, whereupon Ash tried blocking it with a stone to starve the Janners of fresh moor water!! :D

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2124/5698290089_8e523fa0e8.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/5698290089/)
West Dart and the start of Devonport leat (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/5698290089/) by roadkillphil (http://www.flickr.com/people/7904270@N07/), on Flickr

And Matt chuckled on as the fog closed in rapidly, as it does on the moors.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5028/5698271469_1c7d302517.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/5698271469/)
Fog closing in (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/5698271469/) by roadkillphil (http://www.flickr.com/people/7904270@N07/), on Flickr

We caught a brew at the weir then followed the leat back south and headed back over the river to the woods again and settled down here for the afternoon

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2287/5698283369_94fa40ec28.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/5698283369/)
Mossy boulders (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7904270@N07/5698283369/) by roadkillphil (http://www.flickr.com/people/7904270@N07/), on Flickr

We spent the afternoon whittling, making stuff and going on little solo wanders in the wood. The atmosphere was relaxing and refreshing.

Wistmans wood is steeped in legend and ancient history, there are many wonders both old and new and some unique and curious experiences to be had.

Eventually it was time to go so we packed up and headed south. As we were walking back we heard the cuckoo across the valley singing farewell from the very same spot he welcomed us. It kind of rounded off the trip and left us fulfilled.

I've taken away so many memories and feelings from this short venture and I hope one day to return, to be pleasantly surprised many times again.

Thanks to the company I had, and thanks for reading

Oll An Gwella

Phil

[Ashley Cawley]

Thanks for the beautiful write-up Phil. Can't believe the photos you're taking on that iPhone! I took a lumpy SLR & you came away with better photos!
T^
It was funny that last afternoon in the wood, how the atmosphere of the wood changed so much with the weather; in just an hour or two we had dense fog giving it the eerie feel, cleared up, rain, no rain & sun!

The Shewee cracked us up - We ended up trying to think of as many uses for a Shewee as possible ;)

I'll add some of my photos on here dreckly (if I've got any worth adding).

[Matt]

Thanks for your company(and mead) also my friend and for a superb account of the trip.

Oll an gwella,

Matt.

[Martin]

Looks like a great time had by all. :)

Don't forget me next time. :p

Martin

[JonnyP]

Top post.. Nice one lads. I love the atmosphere of Wistmans.

[Ashley Cawley]

Phil Brewing Up
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_dzoenG8Svds/TcWad2AQLdI/AAAAAAABMi0/j0g_u8Os75E/s640/IMG_6314.JPG

Matt checking the facilities (he's not taking a poo honest!)
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_dzoenG8Svds/TcWaqKdHc7I/AAAAAAABMkU/68aK2KcrnWw/s640/IMG_6329.JPG

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_dzoenG8Svds/TcWasnBcHXI/AAAAAAABMks/vdkD1NyPCBA/s640/IMG_6334.JPG

The Source of the Devonport Leat
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_dzoenG8Svds/TcWawOw3HNI/AAAAAAABMlE/dbAnICqJ7Jk/s640/IMG_6338.JPG

The Spoon I whittled to remember this ancient Oak woodland.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_dzoenG8Svds/TcWa2QTfpcI/AAAAAAABMl0/-vxjmgBIiGY/s640/IMG_6347.JPG

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_dzoenG8Svds/TcWa9GImAQI/AAAAAAABMm4/zODkFbVTPQs/s640/IMG_6358.JPG

[jus_young]

Beautiful.

[basicbushcraft]

looks like a great time lads when you doin it agen wouldn't mind joining you

[Roadkillphil]

Thanks for the replies :D Ash, very nice spoon :D I've found a use for the acorn I carved, show you when its done ;D

[Ashley Cawley]

... I've found a use for the acorn I carved, show you when its done ;DShewee stand? ;)

[Roadkillphil]

Shewee stand? ;)

Hahaha! :D Close, Shewee case! ;D


Its gonna be a crook knife case :D Just like Matt said, an idea'll pop up eventually, no rush. I've been meaning to make a crook knife case and it hit me smack in the chops when I pulled out my carving set. Finished carving and splitting now, just gotta burn he out and dowel it.

Sweet!:D

[Ashley Cawley]

Wicked! :happy-clapping:

[ElementOwl]

A great tale & some superb photos, after an awkward day at work this has really lifted my mood. I can imagine how you all enjoyed such a special place.

[Roadkillphil]

A great tale & some superb photos, after an awkward day at work this has really lifted my mood. I can imagine how you all enjoyed such a special place.

Such kind words, thankyou :)

[Bernie]

Sounds like you had a great time and the photos are inspirational. Thanks for sharing.

[kINGPIN]

Cracking photography, thanks for sharing.

[Skate]

Just came across this thread. Lovely pics but none of the Buller Stone you will have to go back ;)