Duchy Land

Last week we had the honour of Prince William, HRH Prince of Wales, visiting a very special location close to Lydgate House Hotel - Wistman's Woods. 

The woodland stands in Duchy land and is one of the last remaining examples of a temperate rainforest. It is adorned with unique and very rare mosses and lichen which are under threat from fire, disease, and climate change. 

This unique flora creates an ethereal beauty that leaves all who visit in awe. It truly is a treasured haven, preserved for generations to come and somewhere everyone coming to Dartmoor should make time to visit. 

Here at Lydgate House Hotel, we feel incredibly privileged to be a part of the Duchy. Duchy land is owned by the crown and managed by HRH The Prince of Wales, and this means that the land surrounding us will always be preserved and protected to promote and enhance the best natural habitats possible. In his new role as the Prince of Wales, Prince William will be continuing the work of his father, King Charles, to achieve the Duchy’s sustainability goal of a net zero and nature rich estate. 

Part of this plan is to implement several measures to regenerate and expand Wistman’s Woods to twice its size by 2040. It’s already such a special place and when doubled in size, it will be double the magic for visitors! 

Being located on Duchy land and having Wistman's Wood on our doorstep is just one of the many reasons we, and so many of our guests, love our location!