Calveslake Tor

The walk up Calveslake Tor takes you out onto proper Dartmoor moorland - heather, gorse, and sky stretching for miles. It's not a hard climb, but it's exposed, so wind can catch you off guard. The tor itself isn't dramatic in the way Hound Tor is; there's no jagged granite architecture here. What you get instead is that feeling of being genuinely out there on the moor, with Plymouth sprawling in the distance on a clear day.

Allow an hour for the round trip if you're not stopping. The views justify the effort if you're already staying in the area - from Dartmoor Domes or Dartmoor National Park itself - but it's not the sort of thing that'll grip you for hours. Families with reasonably fit kids will manage it fine; the path is clear and there's no scrambling involved. Walkers heading out for a proper moorland day will find it a useful warm-up or add-on rather than a destination in itself.

Better in autumn or winter when the moorland colour comes through, and avoid the worst of the summer tourist press. There's no facilities here, so bring water. It's free, of course - it's the moor. The nearest proper services are back towards Plymouth, which is five miles or so away depending on where you set out from.