Hoaroak Hill

The walk up Hoaroak Hill from Lynton is steep and properly knackering, but you'll understand why once you're stood at the top. It's a dramatic wedge of moorland rising sharply above the North Devon coast, and the views back towards Exmoor and out across the Bristol Channel are genuinely worth the huffing and puffing. On a clear day you can see Wales. On a grey one, you get that moody atmospheric thing that makes you feel like you're somewhere genuinely remote, even though Lynton itself is just a short descent away.

The hill itself is quite bare - windswept grass, a few gnarled trees bent by exposure, the occasional stone cairn. It's the kind of place that appeals most to walkers who've got decent legs and don't mind the exposed scramble near the top. Kids will manage it if they're used to hills, but younger ones might find the steep sections tedious. History buffs won't find much of note here, though the landscape itself tells stories about moorland management and coastal settlement patterns if you're into that sort of thing.

Allow a solid hour and a half for the round trip from Lynton, depending on fitness. There's no admission charge - it's open access moorland - and you can tackle it any time, though morning light and autumn visibility tend to be best. If you're staying at Lynmouth Holiday Retreat nearby, this makes an excellent morning excursion before heading back for a proper lunch. Combine it with a coastal walk to Watersmeet for a full day.