Rook Tor

The walk up Rook Tor rewards you with proper views across Dartmoor - not the easiest climb, mind, but straightforward enough if you're reasonably fit. You're scrambling over granite boulders near the top, which sounds dramatic but honestly takes about twenty minutes from the car park. The tor itself isn't massive, but what you get is a genuine 360-degree sweep of moorland that stretches for miles.

History buffs will appreciate the Bronze Age remains scattered around the base - cairns and hut circles if you know where to look. Children tend to enjoy the scramble more than standing about admiring the vista, so factor in an extra half-hour for them to clamber about the rocks. Most people allow an hour to ninety minutes total, which gives you time without rushing.

It's free, naturally - you're on Dartmoor. Best visited in clearer weather; mist rolls in quickly and you lose the whole point of coming. From Plymouth it's a decent drive inland towards the heart of the moor, making it well worth pairing with other local walks or staying at somewhere like Dartmoor Domes for a longer break. The site itself is unmanaged, so there's no facilities - bring water and sensible shoes. Go mid-week if you can; weekends draw a proper crowd for such a small peak.