Great Wood Tor

The walk up Great Wood Tor rewards you with proper views across Dartmoor - nothing too strenuous, which is why families actually make it to the top rather than turning back halfway. From Exeter, it's a straightforward drive out to the moor, and the climb itself takes maybe 40 minutes if you're not rushing. The tor itself is just granite outcrops, but stand on top and you get that satisfying sense of having conquered something real.

Dartmoor walkers will already have this on their list. It's the kind of peak that slots perfectly into a longer ramble across the moorland, or works as a standalone afternoon mission if you're based at Oakmoor Touring Park nearby - though that's an adults-only site, worth knowing if you're travelling with kids. The views aren't dramatic in a Lake District way, but there's something properly absorbing about scanning all that open moorland. On a clear day you can see for miles. On a misty day, which happens more often than not up here, it feels properly atmospheric.

Go early on a weekend if you can. The car park gets rammed in summer, and there's something far better about having the moor mostly to yourself. Wear decent boots - it's boggy in places, and the granite can be slippy when wet. Free to visit, naturally. Allow a couple of hours if you're taking your time and aren't planning a longer walk. It's worth the trip if you're already exploring Dartmoor properly, but don't go out of your way just for this one.