Leighon Tor

The walk up Leighton Tor takes maybe forty minutes from the base, depending on your fitness level and how often you stop to catch your breath. It's not technically demanding - no scrambling, no exposure - but the final push gets properly steep. The payoff? Views across Dartmoor that genuinely stretch for miles on a clear day. You can pick out Hay Tor to the east and, if you're lucky, the moorland rolls away in every direction like a purple-brown quilt.

This works best for walkers who want something achievable without needing specialist kit. Kids aged eight and up will manage it fine, though younger ones might find the final climb tedious. The summit itself is small - a granite outcrop with a basic cairn - so don't expect a sprawling viewpoint café or anything. You're here for the walk and the view, that's it. Allow two to three hours total if you're meandering.

Newton Abbot is your nearest base, though it's not the most scenic town in Devon. That said, if you're camping at Oakmoor Touring Park just outside Newton Abbot, Leighton Tor makes a solid morning outing before heading back for lunch. The moorland around here is proper big sky country - there are dozens of walks in the area, so you could easily string together a few half-days exploring.