Meldon Viaduct

The viaduct rises from Meldon Gorge like something from a Victorian engineering textbook come to life. Built in 1874 to carry the railway across a deep wooded valley, it's a proper engineering feat - a 220-metre span of granite and cast iron that still looks robust enough to handle another century of trains. Except it doesn't carry trains anymore. The line closed in 1972, but the structure remains, and walking across it rewards you with views down into the gorge that'll make you understand why the Victorians bothered with all that effort.

It's a short walk from the Okehampton end - maybe twenty minutes from the car park - and the approach through the forest softens the impact until you suddenly round a bend and there it is. The viaduct stretches ahead, and you can walk right across it on the old railway bed. The drop below is genuine enough to feel adventurous without being reckless. Kids tend to love the slight thrill of it, and walkers appreciate it as a waypoint on the high moor trails heading deeper into Dartmoor.

Time it for late afternoon when the light works through the trees, and the stone glows. Allow an hour for a proper explore, including the walk in. If you're based at Lydford Caravan & Camping Park or Wolf Wood Treehouses nearby, it's an easy half-day outing that breaks up the holiday nicely without requiring a major commitment. Free to access, and the car park's adequate if a bit rough.