King's Tor

The walk up King's Tor is properly steep, but you're rewarded with views that stretch across Dartmoor like someone's just pulled back a curtain. It's a granite outcrop that rises abruptly from the moorland near Tavistock, crowned with a distinctive rocky summit that you can't mistake once you've spotted it. The climb takes maybe half an hour depending on your fitness and how often you stop to catch your breath. I did it on a clear afternoon and could see for miles - the kind of view that makes your legs forget they're burning. The summit itself is small but rocky enough to feel like an achievement. You're standing among proper Dartmoor scenery here, not some tamed tourist spot. It's the sort of walk that appeals to anyone with decent boots and a bit of stamina. Families with teenagers will manage it fine; younger kids might find it a slog coming down. There's no visitor centre or facilities at the top, so bring water. The moorland around here is free to explore as you please, and it slots perfectly into a broader Dartmoor holiday. If you're camping at Langstone Manor just down the road, this makes a cracking afternoon excursion. On a wet day it'll be slippery underfoot, so timing matters. Worth the effort though - proper Dartmoor feel without the crowds you'd get at better-known peaks.