The European viper, or adder, is a notorious resident of Dartmoor, largely because of its status as Britain’s Only Poisonous Snake. Having said that, its bite is not fatal (to adults).
They are rare on the moor generally, although there are reported to be hotspots of populations, and the area around Wistman’s Wood was once reputed to be literally “crawling” with adders.
The woods themselves are part of the ancient woodland that used to cover Dartmoor, and are one of last. The trees themselves are stunted and gnarled pedunculate oaks. Although very short in stature, they have been growing here for centuries, hanging on in a place no longer suited to them, looking like a kind of bonsai forest. They are thought to have survived due to the clitter they grow in, which has prevented grazers from getting close enough to browse young trees before they have reached maturity.
The name of the wood derives from the old Devonian word “wisht”, or eerie, and the small forest certainly has an eldritch quality about it, particularly when it settles into dusk, as the sun sets over Beardown…
This cache is part of the Heart of Dartmoor Series. Inside each cache is a yellow card with 2 numbers on it. Please ignore the Greek letter clue. The other clue will help you to find the Heart of Dartmoor Bonus