Harton Tor

The walk up Harton Tor rewards you with one of Devon's proper vistas - moorland rolling away in all directions, and on a clear day you can see right across Dartmoor. It's not a dramatic peak by Alpine standards, but that's rather the point. The rocky outcrop at the top takes about forty minutes to reach from the car park, a steady climb through heather and gorse that gets steeper towards the summit.

This is genuinely worth doing if you're staying anywhere near Exeter. The moorland path is well-trodden, the air feels miles away from civilisation even though you're barely half an hour from the city, and there's something satisfying about bagging a Tor without needing crampons or a survival kit. The views shift completely depending on which way you look - southwest takes you towards higher moorland, north and east down into the pastoral valleys that make Devon so green.

For walkers, this works brilliantly. Families with older kids will manage it fine, though younger ones might find the exposed sections a bit much. An hour and a half round trip is realistic. Go early morning for the best light and to avoid the weekend crowds who flood up from Exeter.

If you're based at Oakmoor Touring Park, a mere five miles away, this makes an ideal half-day outing. Pack proper boots - the ground's boggy in places - and bring waterproof because moorland weather turns without warning. Free to access, naturally. No facilities at the top, so sort yourself out in town first.