Hookney Tor

The walk up Hookney Tor rewards you with one of those sudden, proper Devon vistas that makes the grunt worthwhile. It's not a monster of a climb - nothing like the bigger tors on Dartmoor - but it's steep enough to get your legs working before you pop out onto the granite outcrop at the top.

What you're looking at once you've made it is moorland rolling away toward Exeter in one direction, and the softer countryside beyond in the other. The tor itself isn't enormous, but the views ripple outward far enough that you feel like you've earned something. On a clear day this is proper stuff. Bring a breeze and you'll understand why people trek up here.

Walkers and Dartmoor enthusiasts will get the most from this one. It's not a scramble or a technical climb - just a solid uphill tramp with a decent payoff. Kids who are used to hills will manage fine, though younger ones might find it tedious. You're looking at an hour or so from car park to summit and back, which makes it a good warm-up if you're planning something bigger on Dartmoor proper.

The real beauty is its position between Exeter and Dartmoor National Park - you could easily loop this into a Dartmoor weekend without it feeling like a diversion. Woodland Springs is closer if you're based that way, but honestly, the tor works as a morning excursion from Exeter itself. Free to visit, obviously. Go early if the weather looks promising.