Ugborough Beacon

The walk up Ugborough Beacon rewards you with views that stretch across Dartmoor in ways few other summits manage. It's not the highest point around - at 1,575 feet - but the vantage point works properly well, especially on a clear day when you can see right across the moorland plateau.

Getting up there takes maybe 30 to 45 minutes depending on your pace and which route you take from South Brent. The paths are well-trodden and manageable for most fitness levels, though it's boggy in places after rain. What makes it worth doing is that it doesn't feel crowded the way Hay Tor or Widecombe often do. You'll likely share the summit with just a handful of other walkers.

This is squarely walkers' territory. Families with younger kids might find the final push a bit much, but teenagers will manage it fine. History buffs get a bonus here - there's an old stone beacon on top, which is genuinely interesting if you're into how moorland signals worked historically.

The landscape around South Brent offers decent walking country, and Ashbourne Woods holiday park sits just 4 miles away if you're staying put for a few days. Use Ugborough Beacon as one leg of a longer moorland walk rather than a standalone trip - combine it with exploring the valley and woodland paths that feed into the surrounding area. Allow a full morning if you're treating it properly, including time to sit and take in the views. It's free to visit, naturally, and accessible year-round though autumn and spring offer the clearest air.