Goldsmith's cross

You'll find this weathered stone cross standing alone on the moorland near Tavistock, a real piece of medieval Devon that most visitors drive straight past. It marks an old trading route across Dartmoor - the kind of thing that makes you stop and think about who carved it, when, and why they bothered putting it here in the middle of nowhere.

Goldsmith's Cross isn't flashy. There's no visitor centre, no café, no interpretation board telling you what to think. You just get the stone itself, probably 14th or 15th century, rising out of the turf with views across open moorland. It's genuinely atmospheric if you're into that sort of thing - which is to say: if you like archaeology and don't need entertainment laid on, you'll find it absorbing. Kids might get restless after five minutes unless they're the type who enjoy a proper moorland walk.

Allow yourself an hour or so if you're combining it with a wider Dartmoor ramble. It's free to visit, obviously. There's no specific opening hours because it's just standing there on the moor - go whenever you fancy. Best in spring or early autumn when the weather's halfway decent and you're not trudging through bog.

If you're based at Langstone Manor or exploring Dartmoor National Park, this works well as a short detour from Tavistock. Worth the stop if you're already out walking the moor, less worth a dedicated trip from elsewhere.