Hound Tor

The granite tors on Dartmoor rise like broken teeth from the moorland, and Hound Tor is one of the most rewarding. You get proper views across the national park from the summit - on a clear day you're looking toward Widecombe and beyond. The walk up is straightforward enough from the car park, maybe twenty minutes if you're not dawdling, and the rocks themselves reward a bit of scrambling about to find the best vantage points.

What strikes you most is how quiet it feels once you're up there, especially mid-week. Families with capable walkers will find it engaging - the tor itself is dramatic enough to hold kids' attention, and there's a sense of proper achievement when you reach the top without it being a grueling expedition. The scattered rocks mean you can pick your own route, which beats trudging along a single marked path.

There's an old settlement visible nearby if you know what you're looking at - the sort of Bronze Age remains that pepper Dartmoor - but you'll want to read up beforehand or bring a guidebook because nothing's explained on site. Allow a couple of hours all in if you want to poke around without rushing.

Free to visit, naturally. It's worth combining with a wider Dartmoor loop rather than treating it as a standalone trip. Oakmoor Touring Park sits five miles away and makes a decent base for exploring the area. Go early in the day if the weather's decent - the moor can change in minutes, and afternoon fog isn't uncommon even in summer.