Stalldown Cairn Circle

Bronze Age stone circles aren't usually what stops you dead on a moorland walk, but Stalldown Cairn Circle does exactly that. It's a proper circle of standing stones on Dartmoor, about five miles from Plymouth, and it hits you with that immediate sense of age - people genuinely gathered here 4,000 years ago.

The circle itself is modest in scale compared to Stonehenge, but that's rather the point. You're not jostling with coachloads here. Instead you get space to walk around the stones, feel the moorland wind, and actually think about what Bronze Age communities were doing on this exposed high ground. The views across Dartmoor are excellent, especially on clear days.

This appeals most to archaeology enthusiasts and serious walkers. Families with young children might find it a bit underwhelming after ten minutes - it's a ring of stones, not an interactive experience. But if you're into prehistory or you're rambling across Dartmoor anyway, it's worth the detour.

Access is free and unrestricted, though there's no visitor infrastructure to speak of. Allow 30 minutes to an hour, depending on how much you want to linger and explore the wider moorland. Winter visits can be bleak and muddy - summer and autumn are far more pleasant.

Stay at Dartmoor Domes or Ashbourne Woods nearby, both excellent rated, and you can build this into a proper Dartmoor circuit. The moorland around here rewards exploration, so don't just tick it off and leave.