Holne Bridge

The River Dart slides under Holne Bridge like something from a Romantic painting - all moss-covered stone and moorland water. It's a proper medieval crossing, built to last, and it does what bridges do without fuss: gets you from one bank to the other while looking handsome doing it.

You'll find it between South Brent and the higher reaches of the moor, nestled in the kind of landscape where you're genuinely surprised the road's still passable. The bridge itself is short and stout, the sort of structure that makes you wonder how many hooves and feet have crossed it over seven centuries. There's no visitor centre or gift shop - it's just the bridge, the river, and the sound of water over rocks.

Walkers get the most from it. The surrounding countryside opens up properly if you're prepared to leave the car and explore on foot, and the moorland paths around here are straightforward enough for families keen on a proper stretch. The bridge marks a natural stopping point on longer routes through Dartmoor, and the Dart itself is worth watching - especially after rain when it moves with real purpose.

It's free, obviously. Allow twenty minutes if you're just photographing and paddling, longer if you're planning a proper walk. Holne Bridge works well as a midday break when staying at Ashbourne Woods, just five miles south - gives you an excuse to leave the holiday park and actually see some of the landscape you paid to be near.