Hunter's Tor

The climb up to Hunter's Tor rewards you with proper views across Dartmoor. It's not a particularly tall peak - you're looking at around 1,600 feet - but the moorland sprawl in every direction makes the effort worthwhile. The walk from nearby roads takes anything from 20 minutes to an hour depending on which approach you fancy, and there's something quite satisfying about reaching the summit cairn and realising you've got Exeter not far behind you to the south.

Walkers will get the most out of this one. It's not strenuous enough to put off families with decent fitness levels, but it's properly moorland rather than park rambling - that slightly wild, boggy, windswept feeling that makes Dartmoor addictive. The terrain changes with the seasons; spring and summer are far nicer underfoot than winter, when it can get muddy. There's no visitor infrastructure at all, so bring water and a map. Even with a decent OS sheet, navigation can be fiddly if the weather turns.

If you're based at Oakmoor Touring Park or Barley Meadow just outside Exeter, Hunter's Tor makes for a solid morning walk before lunch. It's close enough not to chew up your whole day, but distinctive enough that you'll remember it. The views back towards Exeter break up what could otherwise feel repetitive moorland walking. Not the most dramatic peak on Dartmoor, but that's partly what makes it peaceful.