©National Trust Images/Mel Peters ©National Trust Images/Mel Pters
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Ranger repairing a path at Lydford Gorge, Devon.
The walks to Whitelady Waterfall and the bird hide are open during daylight hours through December and January. A walk in the gorge is a great way to escape the modern world for an hour and burn off some of the Christmas excess. Please be aware that if high winds are forecast then the walks will be closed for safety reasons and this will be notified on the website www.nationaltrust.org.uk/lydford-gorge. We have a lot of trees growing on steep banks in thin soil which are more likely to fall or drop branches when it’s wet and windy so please choose to visit another day.
During December the shop and Devil’s Cauldron tea-room are open Thursday to Sunday, 11am-3.30pm, until Christmas. Why not spend a little time on your Christmas shopping in a relaxed environment before taking a break with a cuppa and a tasty snack. The shop has a range of Christmas food, cards, decorations and more. In the tea-room there will be warming soups and paninis as well as cakes to tempt you.
The gorge is classified as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) for its geology as well as the plants and animals that call it home. Now is the time that the rangers get stuck into making it a great habitat for wildlife and visitors alike. Since March over 100,000 feet have walked the gorge and this takes its toll on the surfaces, handrails, steps and bridges. The rangers work hard to maintain the safety of the paths over summer, but need the time in the gorge over winter to do some of the bigger jobs. For example to stop the path edges from eroding away winches are used (and only powered by ranger muscle, no engines) to move large lengths of tree trunk into place.