Bearacleave North Tor

The climb up Bearacleave North Tor from Newton Abbot takes you onto proper moorland - all wind-scrubbed grass, granite outcrops and views that stretch for miles across Dartmoor. It's not a dramatic peak, but that's rather the point. You're not here for mountain heroics; you're here for the walking itself and the sense of space that comes once you've left the town behind.

The tor itself is modest - a jumble of weathered rocks that's less about scrambling and more about standing on the ridge to catch your breath and look around. Walkers will find this spot worth the effort, particularly those who prefer moorland terrain to stiff climbs. The route isn't officially marked, which means the going can be boggy in wet weather, so proper boots are essential rather than optional.

Allow an hour or so from the car park depending on your fitness. There's no cafe at the top, no visitor centre nonsense - just wind and stone and the kind of quiet that makes you remember why you bothered to walk anywhere in the first place. It's free, naturally.

If you're staying at Oakmoor Touring Park nearby - the adult-only site that reliably gets praise - this makes a solid morning excursion before heading back for lunch. It connects well with wider Dartmoor walking if you want to string together a longer day, though the tor itself is a perfectly satisfying destination on its own.