Dewerstone Rock

The walk up to Dewerstone Rock is steep enough to make your calves complain, but once you're standing on top of this volcanic outcrop above the River Meavy, you forget all about it. The views sweep across Dartmoor proper - moorland rolling out in every direction, and on a clear day you can pick out tors for miles. It's proper dramatic stuff.

You're looking at roughly an hour's walk from the nearest parking, and it's not a casual stroll. The path gets rocky underfoot and the final push up is a bit of a scramble, so wear decent boots. Families with younger kids might find it tough going, but teenagers who can handle a bit of exertion will love the sense of achievement. This is the real Dartmoor - windswept, slightly moody, the sort of place where the weather can turn in ten minutes and make you feel very small.

What makes Dewerstone work is that it doesn't feel tamed. There's a medieval fortress on the summit if you know what you're looking for, and local stories about smugglers and secret passages add flavour, but mostly it's just you, the rock, and the moor. It's free to visit, of course - this is Dartmoor, not some ticketed attraction.

If you're staying at one of the nearby parks like Dartmoor Domes or Langstone Manor, this is the walk to do. It'll take up a proper morning or afternoon, and you'll sleep well that night.