West Mill Tor

The walk up West Mill Tor rewards you with proper views across Dartmoor - the kind that justify the scramble. It's not the highest peak around Exeter, but the rocky summit feels exposed and windswept in the best possible way, especially when you've earned it on foot.

You're looking at moorland walks either way you tackle this one. The tor itself isn't dramatic like some of the granite peaks further into Dartmoor, but the approach across open ground gives you that genuine sense of being out on the moors. Most walkers allow two to three hours for a proper circuit, though you could knock it out quicker if you're just heading straight for the top.

Families with decent hillwalkers will manage it fine. Younger kids might struggle with the final scramble if it's been wet. The whole thing's free, which is how it should be - this is Dartmoor, not some fenced-off tourist trap.

If you're based at Lydford Caravan & Camping Park, just under six miles away, West Mill Tor makes a solid morning outing before heading back for lunch. It fits well into a broader Dartmoor day - you could easily combine it with other peaks or riverside walks in the area. The moorland around here changes character completely depending on the weather, so go when the visibility's decent. Overcast and drizzly is genuinely atmospheric, but you want to see where you're walking.