Standing Stone

Three thousand years of wind and weather haven't shifted this solitary granite sentinel one inch. The Standing Stone sits on open moorland near Plymouth, a Bronze Age monument that's refreshingly free of interpretation boards and visitor centres - just you, the stone, and whatever ancient purpose brought it here.

Archaeology enthusiasts will appreciate the raw authenticity. This isn't Stonehenge with its crowds and rope barriers. You can walk right up to it, touch the weathered granite, and wonder what ceremonies or rituals once took place here. The stone stands about eight feet tall, surrounded by nothing but moorland grass and distant views across the South Devon landscape.

Families might find it a bit anticlimactic - there's not much to 'do' beyond looking and pondering. But it makes a good leg-stretcher if you're staying at one of the nearby holiday parks like Woolacombe Sands or Hele Valley. The walk from the nearest parking is short enough for most ages, though proper walking boots are wise given the uneven ground.

History buffs often combine it with other prehistoric sites scattered across this part of Devon. It's the sort of place that rewards a bit of imagination - stand there at sunset and you might just feel that connection to our Bronze Age ancestors who hauled this massive stone upright all those centuries ago.