Pinkery Pond

Pinkery Pond sits on Exmoor proper, a small moorland lake that catches you by surprise when you round the bend in this landscape of heather and gorse. It's not the sort of dramatic water feature you might be expecting - no dramatic cliffs, no grand vistas - but that's rather the point. You get a genuine slice of working moorland, the kind of place where you're more likely to bump into a pony than another tourist.

The walk here from Lynton is straightforward enough, though the moorland terrain means you'll want decent boots. Allow a couple of hours for a circular route if you're taking it leisurely. The pond itself is fairly modest in size, but locals know it as a decent spot for a breather, and the surrounding moorland opens up properly when you reach the water's edge. It's the sort of place walkers actually come to walk, not to Instagram-hunt.

Families with older kids will get more from this than toddlers, frankly. If you're staying at Lynmouth Holiday Retreat just down the way, it's a worthwhile morning excursion rather than a destination in itself. The real appeal is the Exmoor experience - the space, the quiet, the occasional red grouse - rather than the pond as a focal point. Don't expect facilities or crowds. This is Exmoor in its honest form, which is exactly why it's worth the detour.