Riddon Ridge

The walk up Riddon Ridge takes you onto proper high ground with views across Dartmoor that stretch for miles on a clear day. It's not a massive peak - nothing daunting - but the ridge itself commands the landscape around Exeter, and once you're up there you feel like you've actually earned the vantage point.

You get moorland underfoot, patches of heather, and on the way up you'll pass through scrubby woodland before breaking out onto open ground. The ridge runs roughly east-west and you can follow it for as long as you fancy - some people turn it into a proper walk, others just head for the highest point and call it done. Either way, it takes between one and two hours depending on your pace and where you start from.

Walkers will find this one worth the trip, especially if you're already planning time in Dartmoor National Park just down the road. The park itself offers plenty of other moorland hikes, but Riddon Ridge gives you something a bit different - less crowded than some of the other peaks, with genuine views rather than just another climb. Families with older kids will manage it fine, though younger legs might find it a slog. The weather can turn nasty quickly up here, so check conditions before you go. There's no facilities on the ridge itself, so bring water and wear proper boots.