Pillow Mounds (Warrens)

These bumps in the ground near South Brent look like nothing much at first - just a series of low earthen mounds scattered across the moorland. Then you realise you're standing on medieval rabbit warren, and suddenly they matter. Pillow mounds were built by Norman landowners to farm rabbits for meat and fur, a lucrative business back in the 12th and 13th centuries. The mounds themselves are artificial, dug out to create warren systems where rabbits could burrow safely.

Walking through the site, you spot the distinctive long, low humps - some in fair condition, others worn by centuries of weather and grazing. It's the kind of place that rewards a bit of imagination. History types will find it genuinely absorbing, particularly if you know what you're looking at. Families with older kids who enjoy a bit of detective work on the landscape will get something out of it, though younger children might find it underwhelming - there's no interpretation board and no dramatic views to keep them engaged.

Allow 20 minutes to half an hour depending on how thorough you want to be. Access is straightforward and free. The moorland setting is pleasant enough, though it's not a destination you'd trek out specially for without other plans in the area. Paired with a stay at Ashbourne Woods or one of the Dartmoor National Park camps nearby, it slots in nicely as a morning amble before lunch. Worth a detour if you're exploring the moors, but don't expect signposting or facilities.