Ladybrook Tor

The walk up Ladybrook Tor isn't long, but it's steep enough to make your calves burn if you're not careful. From Exeter, you're looking at a proper moorland walk, and when you reach the summit you get a decent panorama across Dartmoor - all rolling heathland and distant ridgelines, the sort of view that justifies the effort. The tor itself is modest, nothing like the dramatic granite peaks you find further out on the moor, but there's something satisfying about how it pokes up from the scrubland. On a clear day visibility extends for miles.

This is really a walker's stop rather than a casual tourist spot. Families with young kids might find the climb tedious unless they're already into moorland rambling. History enthusiasts won't find much except the landscape itself - no ruins, no plaques, just old Devon scenery. Allow a couple of hours round trip from the car park, and pick a day when the weather's settled because the moor can get properly bleak when it's wet and cloudy.

If you're based at Woodland Springs Touring Park near Exeter, Ladybrook Tor makes a straightforward half-day excursion, particularly if you want a genuine moorland feel without committing to a full day on Dartmoor proper. The walk beats sitting around the park, and it's close enough that you won't spend half your morning just driving. Go early in the day if possible - afternoon crowds can make the narrow paths feel a bit crowded, and light fades quickly across the moor.