St. Bellarmin's Tor

The walk up St. Bellarmin's Tor from Bodmin moors is steeper than it looks from below, but the effort pays off once you're standing on top. This granite peak rises sharp and sudden from the landscape around it, and on a clear day you can see right across to the coast. The summit itself is fairly small - you're not getting lost up here - but it's got proper character. Stone cairns mark the spot, and there's a real sense of achievement when you reach it, especially if you've trudged up from the south side.

Walkers will find this rewarding without being punishing. It takes maybe forty minutes each way from the car park, depending on your pace and how many times you stop to catch your breath on the steeper bits. The moorland around the tor is open and windswept, so dress for it - weather can change fast out here. Spring and early autumn are your best bets for decent visibility and ground that isn't waterlogged.

This works well as a morning outing if you're staying at Camp De Lank, which sits just 3.6 miles away. Combine it with a proper walk across Bodmin Moor itself, and you've got a solid half-day out. History buffs might care to know the tor's named after a sixteenth-century saint, though honestly most visitors come for the views and the exercise rather than the ecclesiastical connection.

Bringing kids? They'll manage the climb if they're reasonable walkers, but younger ones might struggle with the steeper final section. Dogs love it up here.