Southcott Down

The walk up Southcott Down rewards you with proper views across Devon's rolling interior - the kind of landscape that makes you understand why people settle in this county and never leave. It's not a dramatic peak, but that's rather the point. This is honest moorland walking rather than Alpine theatre.

From Exeter, it's an easy drive inland, and the ascent itself takes the best part of an hour at a leisurely pace. The summit gives you sight lines towards Dartmoor on clear days, and the surrounding farmland spreads out below in that particular shade of green that only the South West manages. Walkers will appreciate the straightforward approach and the lack of crowds you'd find on more famous tors.

There's little infrastructure - no cafe, no visitor centre, just the down itself. Bring water and decent shoes; the ground can be boggy after rain. Allow two to three hours for a round trip if you're stopping to take it in rather than rushing.

It fits well with a touring break at Oakmoor, just under six miles away. That's adult-only accommodation, which means a different sort of peace and quiet to complement your walking days. Southcott Down works best as part of a wider Devon rambling itinerary rather than a standalone destination - combine it with Dartmoor proper or the valleys closer to Exeter itself, and you've got a solid few days of boot-friendly terrain.