Merrivale Prehistoric Settlement

Two rows of standing stones march across the moorland near Tavistock like sentries frozen mid-patrol. Merrivale Prehistoric Settlement is exactly that - two parallel alignments of Bronze Age stones, probably around 3,500 years old, plus a stone circle and burial cairns scattered across the open moorland. There's no café, no visitor centre, no faffing about. Just you, the wind, and several tons of ancient granite.

Walkers absolutely love it because the site sits on moorland you can actually wander across properly. The stones themselves are modest in height - maybe three or four feet - but the setting is what gets you. On a clear day the views stretch across Dartmoor, and you get genuine isolation without having to trek for hours. Allow an hour to explore the alignments, circle, and cairns if you're having a proper look around.

It's free, naturally. Nearest facilities are back in Tavistock, which is the logical place to base yourself for a week on the moor. If you're staying at Langstone Manor Holiday Park - just two miles away - this makes an easy morning walk or a quick stop between other Dartmoor activities. The settlement works well combined with nearby Dartmoor National Park's other stone circles and burial sites. History buffs will want time to soak in the atmosphere, though younger kids might find it all a bit samey after twenty minutes unless they're properly into archaeology. Best visited when the weather's decent - the exposure is proper on wet days.