Ryedown Stone

Out on Bodmin Moor, a few miles from Bodmin itself, stands a single standing stone that's been there longer than anyone can quite remember. Ryedown Stone is the sort of place you stumble upon rather than plan for - it's not fenced off or sign-posted to death, just a weathered granite pillar rising from the moorland. Bronze Age folk put it here, probably around 3,000 years ago, though what it marked or meant is anyone's guess now.

It's a proper walking destination, not a destination in itself. The moor around it is open and bleak in the best way - you can see for miles, and the solitude is genuine. Bring decent boots because it gets muddy, and allow a good hour to walk out and back from anywhere nearby. Families with older kids who enjoy a moorland ramble will get something out of it; younger ones might find it underwhelming unless they're into stones and ancient stuff.

There's no visitor centre, no café, no admission charge. It's free and entirely unmanaged. If you're staying at Camp De Lank or Rosebud Farm, both solid parks within a few miles, it's worth a morning's explore. Just go when the weather's decent - the moor can be grim in rain, and the stone won't reward you for getting soaked. Visit for the walk and the space, not for the stone itself.