Sugarloaf Hill

The walk up Sugarloaf Hill from Lynton takes about forty minutes and rewards you with proper 360-degree views across Exmoor and down to the Bristol Channel. It's not a gruelling climb - steep in patches, yes, but nothing that'll leave you gasping. The path is well-trodden and the summit itself, crowned with gorse and heather, gives you that genuine sense of achievement without needing technical gear or a dawn start.

This is one for walkers and anyone who appreciates a decent vantage point without the crowds you'd get at more famous spots. Families with older kids will manage it fine; younger ones might find the final push a bit tedious, though the views usually shut down complaints once you reach the top. On a clear day you can see for miles - the Exmoor plateau stretches out behind you, and towards the coast there's a proper sense of scale and space.

It costs nothing and you can do it as a stand-alone outing or stitch it into a longer walk around the area. Allow a couple of hours if you're not rushing, half that if you're just bagging the summit and heading back. The best approach is to avoid the school holidays and weekends when Lynton itself gets rammed with visitors. Winter's actually rather lovely - fewer people and the light's often clearer.

If you're staying at Lynmouth Holiday Retreat just down the coast, this makes an easy morning or late-afternoon excursion that doesn't require driving.