National Trust - Lydford Gorge

The river does most of the talking at Lydford Gorge. What starts as a gentle woodland walk through beech and oak quickly narrows into a proper canyon, with the East Dart River carving through 90 metres of granite below. The main loop takes you past the White Lady Waterfall - a delicate ribbon of water that's best visited after rain when it actually has some force to it - and down to the Whirlpool, where the water churns itself into a frothing mess of rock and spray.

Allow two hours for the full circuit. It's not a doddle - there are 200-odd steps in places, the path gets muddy fast, and it's a genuine scramble in parts. Families with younger kids might struggle unless they're the outdoorsy type. But walkers will find it properly rewarding. The gorge is deep enough that you genuinely feel removed from the outside world, even though Okehampton is only five miles away.

The National Trust owns it, so there's a small car park and basic facilities. Admission costs a few quid per car, though exact prices aren't listed online - ring ahead to check before you head out. Spring and autumn offer the best conditions: summer brings crowds, winter means ice on the steps.

If you're staying at Lydford Caravan & Camping Park right on the doorstep, this becomes an obvious morning activity. Wolf Wood Treehouses, six miles north, gives you the gorge as a proper day-trip from a more unusual base. Either way, it's the kind of place that justifies the journey to Dartmoor.