Hameldown Beacon

The walk up Hameldown Beacon rewards you with one of Dartmoor's most sweeping views - the sort that makes you understand why people move to Devon and never leave. It's a proper moorland peak, around 1,700 feet, and the landscape up there feels properly wild despite being less than an hour from Exeter.

You'll find the summit is marked by a cairn and a Bronze Age barrow - which means you're standing on top of something humans have considered important for literally thousands of years. The moorland grassland changes colour with the seasons, purple heather in late summer, golden-brown in autumn. On a clear day you can pick out Tor Bay on the coast.

It's a straightforward walk rather than a scramble, so families with older kids manage it fine. Budget two to three hours for the round trip depending on your pace and how long you linger at the top. The paths are well-worn but can get boggy after rain - proper boots are worth the bother. There's no café at the summit, obviously, so bring water and a packed lunch if you want to make an afternoon of it.

Works brilliantly as part of a Dartmoor National Park itinerary - you could easily chain it with other tors and walks in the area. The approach from the north is less steep than coming up from the south, if you have a choice. Go early on weekends; it gets busy with walkers, and the car parks fill up by mid-morning.