Hockinston Tor

The climb up Hockinston Tor from South Brent takes about forty minutes if you're reasonably fit, and you'll know you've earned the view. It's not a massive peak - roughly 1,400 feet - but the moorland approach is proper boggy in places, which keeps the crowds down and adds to the sense of real Dartmoor rather than tourist-trap territory.

What you get at the top is genuinely worthwhile. On a clear day, the views stretch across the high moor towards higher tors and down into the valleys that cut through Devon. The granite outcrops are dramatic enough to make it feel like an achievement without requiring technical climbing. Families with older children and decent boots will find it manageable. Younger ones might struggle with the terrain and the lack of an obvious "destination" once you reach the summit - it's not a fort or a tower, just rock and space.

The real appeal here is the walk itself rather than what you find at the end. If you're base yourself in or around Dartmoor National Park for a week, this makes a solid half-day outing, especially early morning when the mist is lifting. The South Brent approach avoids the busier car parks elsewhere on the moor.

Bring proper waterproofs and sturdy footwear. The moorland can be deceptively wet, and an exposed ridge scramble in the rain loses its charm fast. Allow three to four hours to be comfortable, and go when the weather looks settled rather than hoping for the best.