Bakers Pit

You'll find Bakers Pit tucked into the moorland near South Brent, a proper cave system that rewards a bit of scrambling to reach. The main draw is the chance to duck into genuine limestone caverns and feel that particular underground chill that never quite leaves you. It's not a polished show cave with lights and handrails - this is the real thing, which means you need to be reasonably fit and not claustrophobic.

The cave itself opens up once you're inside, with passages you can explore depending on your nerve and torch power. The walk to get there takes you across Dartmoor terrain, so decent boots matter. Most people spend between one and two hours mucking about here before heading back out into daylight.

Historia buffs will appreciate that caves like this have been occupied on and off for centuries, though Bakers Pit itself isn't heavily documented compared to some limestone sites. It's less about interpretation and more about the experience of actual cave exploration - so it works best for people who enjoy a bit of adventure rather than those expecting an easy tourist stroll.

It's completely free, which is generous, and there's no fixed opening times because you're essentially just wandering onto moorland. If you're based at Ashbourne Woods, you're barely twenty minutes away. The nearby Dornafield campsite puts you slightly further out but still within easy reach. Go when the weather's decent - wet conditions make the approach slippery and the cave interior uninviting.