Fox Tor

The walk up Fox Tor is steep, relentless, and absolutely worth it. This moorland peak sits just outside Tavistock and rewards the grunt with proper views across Dartmoor - on a clear day you're looking at miles of rough grass, distant tors, and the kind of silence you don't get anywhere else.

It's a craggy granite outcrop rather than a smooth cone, so the summit itself isn't massive, but that's not really the point. The point is the effort to get there and what unfolds around you when you arrive. You'll pass through heather and rough moorland scrub, spot sheep that couldn't care less about your presence, and probably share the space with no more than a handful of other walkers even in decent weather.

Allow two hours return from the nearest car park. There's no cafe, no gift shop, no facilities at all - bring water and sensible boots. The path can be boggy in places and visibility drops fast when the mist comes in, which it does often.

Walkers will get the most from Fox Tor. It's not a casual stroll, and young kids might struggle with the gradient. But if you're staying in the Dartmoor National Park area near Tavistock and fancy a proper moorland workout rather than a gentle amble, this beats the more crowded tors. Entry is free and it's accessible year-round, though winter conditions can make the ascent properly sketchy.