Whiddon Wood, Chagford, Dartmoor National Park
[Main photo: the upper section of Whiddon Wood]
Southern side of the Teign Gorge
The River Teign flows through the stunning Teign Gorge in the north eastern section of Dartmoor National Park near Chagford. On either side of the river, heavily wooded gorge walls rise steeply. The popular and busy Fisherman’s Path and Hunters’ Path are on the northern side of the gorge. These are the paths most people take when visiting the Teign Gorge, Fingle Bridge/Fingle Bridge Inn and Castle Drogo area. Fewer people explore the southern side of the gorge. This is where you’ll find Whiddon Wood and an extraordinary area of temperate rainforest.
Location of Whiddon Wood
Moving east to west, the southern side of the Teign Gorge consists of Charles Wood above Fingle Bridge, Hannicombe Wood and then Whiddon Wood. Beyond Whiddon Wood is Whiddon Deer Park which is known for its amazing trees, lichens and mosses.
Whiddon Wood located across the gorge from Castle Drogo and Sharp Tor.
Directions to, and parking at, Whiddon Wood
Whiddon Wood’s location means that you can approach it from all directions.
If you are a National Trust member or pay to visit Castle Drogo, use that car park. Follow the A382 to Sandy Park and follow the signs up the skinny moorland lane to Castle Drogo.
There’s limited parking on the side of A382 by the Mill End Hotel at Dogmarsh Bridge. A good path runs up the north bank of the River Teign to the Teign Gorge.
There’s lots of parking at Fingle Bridge. Again, follow the A382 to Sandy Park and then follow signs past Castle Drogo to Drewsteignton and then down to Fingle Bridge.
You’ll also find limited parking spaces along the moorland lanes that run south of the Teign Gorge between Cranbrook Castle and Wooston Castle.
Recommended route to Whiddon Wood for the first time
There’s no obvious first route. We’ve chosen this one because there’s free parking and it’s arguably the easiest route to follow. Browse the other suggestions below and take your pick.
Start at Fingle Bridge. Cross the bridge and follow the track that climbs very steeply south into Charles Wood as marked on Ordnance Survey mapping. There’s an extraordinary viewpoint about a third of the way up that looks west down the Teign Gorge to Castle Drogo with the north moor beyond.
Continue up this track past the sign for the Lower Deer Stalkers Path to the sign for the Upper Deer Stalkers Path. Follow this upper path west. There’s a great view of Drewston Wood, Prestonbury Hill Fort and Mid Devon beyond.
The Upper Deer Stalkers Path converges with the Lower Deer Stalkers path in Hannicombe Wood. The path is actually a track. Continue west on this track into Whiddon Wood.
You’ll see waymarkers topped with orange. One of these waymakers is positioned on a sharp bend in the track as it starts its descent to the valley floor. You’ll see a path opposite this waymarker. This takes you into Whiddon Wood. Note that relatively few people walk in here so you normally have to step over fallen trees.
As you follow this path, you’ll see a particularly wild area of woodland above you to the left. It’s impressive after rain and feels as if you’re standing in a rainforest.
Continue on this path and you come to a corner of the moss covered stone wall of Whiddon Deer Park. Ahead, you’ll see a wooden fence.
There are various routes you can take from here (right, straight ahead or left) but we’d recommend turning left into the high ground of Whiddon Deer Park. The views to Castle Drogo, the Chagford area and the north moor are superb.
A very obvious path takes you down to rows of beech trees in which you’ll find Peter Randall-Page’s Passage Sculpture. The path drops steeply and bends north to the valley floor at Iron Bridge and the River Teign.
Walk back along the southern bank of the River Teign to Fingle Bridge.
Other routes and directions to Whiddon Wood
As mentioned above, you can walk in from all directions. We provide options below.
Routes and directions to Whiddon Wood from the east
Alternatively, from Fingle Bridge, follow the track that runs on the south side of the River Teign. As you approach the Iron Bridge end of the gorge, you’ll see signs for the Deer Stalkers Path on your left. It’s a steep climb to the waymarker topped with orange by the path that leads you into Whiddon Wood.
Routes and directions to Whiddon Wood from the west
There’s limited parking on the side of A382 by the Mill House Hotel at Dogmarsh Bridge. A good path runs up the north bank of the River Teign to the Teign Gorge, Iron Bridge and the River Teign.
Cross Iron Bridge and walk the south bank of the River Teign until you reach the signs for the Deer Stalkers Path. Head up.
You can also cross Iron Bridge and then follow the path that climbs up to the rows of beech trees in which you’ll find Peter Randall-Page’s Passage Sculpture. Walk through the sculpture, follow the path for about two hundred metres and then trend north to the corner of the wall that lines Whiddon Deer Park. Walk through the gap and you’ll come to a wooden gate on your right. Wander into Whiddon Wood.
Alternatively, walk in from Chagford.
Routes and directions to Whiddon Wood from the north
Drop down from Castle Drogo to the Teign Gorge, Iron Bridge and the River Teign.
Cross Iron Bridge and walk the south bank of the River Teign until you reach the signs for the Deer Stalkers Path. Head up.
You can also cross Iron Bridge and then follow the path that climbs up to the rows of beech trees in which you’ll find Peter Randall-Page’s Passage Sculpture. Walk through the sculpture, follow the path for about two hundred metres and then trend north to the corner of the wall that lines Whiddon Deer Park. Walk through the gap and you’ll come to a wooden gate on your right. Wander into Whiddon Wood.
Routes and directions to Whiddon Wood from the south
You’ll also find limited parking spaces along the moorland lanes that run south of the Teign Gorge between Cranbrook Castle and Wooston Castle.
Walk from these starting points to connect with the routes described above.
The views from Whiddon Wood
View from path in Whiddon Wood up to the top of the woods. Remarkable area of temperate rainforest.
In winter, when the trees are skeletal, there are super views across to the crags of Sharp Tor.
The area around Whiddon Wood
Castle Drogo. One of the most popular National Trust properties in South West England. Great for a cream tea.
Fingle Bridge/Fingle Bridge Inn. Dartmoor beauty spot with a riverside pub garden.
Stone Lane Gardens. Amazing, compact gardens that hosts an annual sculpture exhibition. Can’t recommend this place highly enough.
Spinster’s Rock. Rare prehistoric site in Dartmoor National Park. Note that you’ll find lots of these in Cornwall, especially on the West Penwith Peninsula/Land’s End Peninsula.
Places to eat and drink near Whiddon Wood
Fingle Bridge Inn. Situated by the River Teign where the Teign Gorge meets Fingle Woods.
Castle Drogo. Cafe (and shop) at the entrance to Castle Drogo. Nice outdoor area for summer.
Drewe Arms. Nice local village pub in Drewsteignton.
Mill End Hotel. By the A382 by the Mill End Hotel at Dogmarsh Bridge if you’re coming from that direction.
Chagford. Very popular Dartmoor tourist destination which means there are lots of pubs and cafes. Have a wander when you’re there and take your pick. We like the Three Crowns near The Pepperpot in the centre of town.
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