Hellhounds’ heaven

Near Two Bridges on Dartmoor lies one of Britain’s highest oak woods, a wonderful maze of twisted, stunted trees covered in lichens, and mossy boulders. The name itself comes from an ancient dialect word for eerie and the wood is well-known for being home to a pack of hellhounds that hunt with a dark-robed figure, threatening to steal the mortal soul of anyone crazy enough to enter the area – otherwise it’s perfectly safe.

The wood has long been an inspiration to artists and writers – notably John Fowles with his 1978 book The Tree, in which he points out how the irrational human fear of forests has been a hugely destructive force in the history of the earth. The walk up to the wood is just over a mile long and starts at the Two Bridges Hotel on the B3357. There is parking in an old quarry opposite. If you want to extend your day, head on to Longaford Tor, or south-east to where the East and West Dart rivers meet.