Hillson's House;Stalldown Barrow

The view from Stalldown Barrow proper rewards the climb. You're standing on a Bronze Age burial mound on Dartmoor's high ground, with Plymouth sprawling away to the south and Bodmin Moor rolling east across Cornwall. On a clear day it's genuinely stunning - the kind of 360-degree sweep that makes you understand why ancient people chose this spot.

Hillson's House sits nearby, a small stone shelter that's become something of a landmark for walkers tackling this part of the moor. It's not much - a basic refuge really - but it marks the route clearly and gives the walk a purpose beyond just trudging uphill. The shelter has character though, weathered and real in a way that modern facilities never manage.

This is walkers' territory more than families with young kids. The barrow itself is steep and exposed, which means proper boots and a weather eye on the sky. Allow a couple of hours round trip from the nearest car park, depending on your fitness. The wind can be ferocious up here, so don't underestimate it.

If you're staying at Dartmoor Domes or Ashbourne Woods - both five miles or so away - this works as a proper half-day expedition rather than a casual stroll. The nearby high moorland around Roborough and Ugborough offers similar terrain, so you could string together a longer day if you wanted. Worth doing if moorland appeals to you; skip it if you want gentler terrain.