Moons Cross

Out on Dartmoor proper, Moons Cross stands alone on the moorland between Exeter and the heart of the moor - a 14th-century wayside marker that's been weathering the Devon elements for nearly 700 years. It's a granite cross, frankly modest by today's standards, but that's rather the point. Medieval folk would have used it to navigate the treacherous open moor, a spiritual checkpoint on routes between settlements.

You won't spend hours here. Twenty minutes, maybe half an hour if you're the type to sit and soak it all in. The thing is, reaching it means actually getting out onto the moor, which is precisely why it's worth the trip. The landscape around the cross is properly wild - rolling grassland, distant tors, the kind of space that makes you understand why medieval travellers needed reassurance. On a clear day the views stretch for miles.

This appeals most to walkers and history enthusiasts who've already committed to exploring Dartmoor. Families might find it a bit anticlimactic if they're expecting something grand, but if you're doing a moorland ramble from one of the nearby parks - Woodland Springs or Barley Meadow - it's a legitimate reason to head in a particular direction rather than ambling about aimlessly. Both parks sit close enough that Moons Cross makes sense as part of a day's exploration.

Access appears to be free, though you'll need decent boots and weather-appropriate clothing. Check ahead about exact conditions on Dartmoor-crosses.org.uk before you head out - moorland weather changes fast.