Rival Tor

The walk up Rival Tor isn't long, but it's steep enough to make your legs remember it. You're looking at maybe twenty minutes of proper climbing through scrubby woodland before the ground opens out and suddenly you've got views across Devon that make the huffing worthwhile.

It's a modest peak - nothing alpine about it - but that's rather the point. Walkers of intermediate fitness will find it satisfying without needing crampons or a rescue team. The summit itself is rocky and exposed, with decent sightlines across the moorland toward Exeter and beyond. On a clear day you can see further than you'd expect from something this small.

Go in autumn or early spring when the weather's settled but the paths aren't packed. Summer weekends can get a bit lively if the weather's nice. Allow ninety minutes return, more if you're taking photographs or having a sit-down with a flask.

It works well as a half-day outing from Woodland Springs Touring Park - close enough that you're not spending forever in the car, but proper enough to feel like you've done something. Families with older kids will manage fine; younger ones might find the climb tedious. History buffs won't find much here - this is about the walk and the view, not the story.