May Day Rock

May Day Rock sits about four miles from Newton Abbot, a modest granite outcrop that's been carved with names and dates going back centuries. It's the sort of spot you'd walk past without noticing if someone hadn't pointed it out - which is precisely why it's worth seeking out.

The rock itself is unremarkable until you get close. That's when you see it: generations of travellers have scratched their initials and the year into the stone, some dating back to the 1600s. It's a strange, touching record of people passing through Devon, marking themselves on the landscape in the only way available to them. Whether they were merchants, drovers, or just locals with pocket knives, you can't say - but the impulse is instantly recognisable.

You won't spend long here. Twenty minutes is plenty unless you're the type to photograph every inscription and work out the dates. Families with young children might enjoy the rock-hunting aspect - there's something satisfying about tracing your fingers over carved letters worn smooth by rain and centuries.

It's free and accessible whenever you fancy wandering over. The area connects well with a broader walking loop around Newton Abbot, and if you're staying at Oakmoor Touring Park nearby, it's a decent leg-stretcher before returning to camp. Don't expect views or facilities - it's just a rock with stories. But that's rather the point.