Watern Tor

The walk up to Watern Tor rewards you with proper views across Dartmoor - the sort of landscape that makes you understand why people move to Devon and never leave. It's a modest height but the exposed position means you're genuinely looking out over miles of moorland, and on a clear day the visibility is excellent.

Getting there involves a straightforward moorland walk from Exeter's direction - nothing technical, but the path can be boggy depending on the season, so decent boots matter. The tor itself is rocky rather than dramatically peaked, but that's rather the appeal: you've earned a proper panorama without needing climbing skills or hours of your day. Most people manage the round trip in under two hours, which fits well into a broader Dartmoor exploration.

Walkers and landscape photographers will absolutely get something from this. Families with capable legs will find it manageable, though younger children might lose interest on the approach if the weather turns. It's free, naturally - it's Dartmoor.

The real value here is proximity to Exeter combined with genuine isolation once you're out on the moor. Woodland Springs Touring Park sits four miles away and makes a sensible base if you're planning several moorland sorties. This isn't a tick-box attraction. It's the sort of walk that reminds you why the South West rewards people who take time over things.