Branscombe's Loaf

The walk up to Branscombe's Loaf starts deceptively gentle, winding through moorland just outside Okehampton before the path steepens considerably. The tor itself is unmistakable once you're close - a dramatic granite formation that resembles its name-sake more than you'd expect, all craggy and weathered by centuries of Dartmoor wind. The summit gives you proper 360-degree views across the moor, stretching all the way to the distant ridges. On a clear day, it's well worth the forty-minute climb from the carpark. On a murky one, you're slogging uphill for cloud views and slightly damp regret.

This is fundamentally a walker's destination. The rock scramble at the end isn't technical, but it's steep enough that very young kids might need a hand - teenagers will find it straightforward. The whole affair takes two to three hours depending on fitness and how long you linger at the top. There's no facilities up there, obviously, so bring water and something to eat. Summer weekends pull a fair crowd, but midweek or outside school holidays it's refreshingly quiet.

If you're camped at Lydford Caravan & Camping Park just down the road, Branscombe's Loaf works as a solid morning objective before heading elsewhere on Dartmoor. Wolf Wood Treehouses, a bit further afield, makes a more luxurious base if you want to combine fell-walking with something special. Either way, it's the kind of summit that rewards the effort without requiring mountaineering credentials.