Spooky wood is among top 'dark tourism' spots

SHROUDED moorland, spectral stillness and gnarled ancient oaks have secured Wistman’s Wood a new accolade as one of Europe's most spine-chilling Halloween destinations.

- By LEWIS CLARKE [e-mail]

Nestled deep within Dartmoor National Park, Wistman’s Wood has been recognised amongst Europe’s premier gothic travel spots by Icelandair, owing to its unsettling ambience and moss-cloaked trees that could easily feature in a scene from the TV series Wednesday.

The brooding ancient forest was spotlighted as England’s premier “dark tourism” location by researchers who combed the continent for secluded getaways rich in history, isolation, and otherworldly allure.

With merely 150 monthly Google searches and a Tripadvisor score of 4.7, Wistman’s Wood remains a concealed gem or perhaps a sinister secret - for those pursuing atmospheric, melancholic refuges.

During November, sunlight over the forest endures for just eight and a half hours.