Haytor Rocks

The rocks themselves are the draw - a jumble of weathered granite boulders stacked on top of each other like some ancient game of giants, rising about 400 metres above the moor near Newton Abbot. You'll spot them from miles away across Dartmoor, which is rather the point. The walk up takes twenty minutes or so depending on fitness, and the views properly repay the effort. On a clear day you're looking across the whole moor towards Widecombe and beyond.

It's a straightforward scramble rather than a technical climb - kids manage it fine, though younger ones will need a hand over the higher bits. The rocks themselves are grippy granite, weathered smooth in places and rough in others. There's a proper sense of exposure once you're up there, which adds a bit of excitement without being dangerous.

Walkers and moor explorers will get the most from this. It's not a sit-about spot - you climb, you look, you move on. Allow an hour round trip including time at the top. Free to visit, naturally, being open moorland. The best light is late afternoon when the granite catches the sun.

If you're staying at Oakmoor Touring Park nearby, this makes an excellent half-day outing between other Dartmoor exploration. It's accessible enough for most abilities but gives that genuine sense of achievement. The moor wind can be fierce up top, so come prepared for weather.