Western Beacon

The walk up Western Beacon rewards you with the sort of view that makes the huffing and puffing worthwhile. This Devon peak sits inland from Plymouth, and once you've climbed to the summit, you get proper countryside stretching out - moorland rolling away, the kind of landscape that makes you understand why people come to the South West in the first place.

It's not a savage climb, which means families with reasonably fit kids can manage it without too much grumbling. The peak itself isn't terribly dramatic - no knife-edge ridge or dizzying drops - but the vantage point across the moors justifies the effort. On a clear day you're taking in miles of Devon, which beats staring at a car park from sea level.

Histor buffs might find the moorland setting interesting, though Western Beacon isn't a major historical site in the way some peaks are. It's more about the walking and the views than anything else. Allow a solid two hours if you're not a rapid hiker, and go early if you want to avoid the weekend crowds.

If you're based at Hidden Hill Devon or Ashbourne Woods - both within five miles - this makes an excellent morning outing before heading back for lunch. It ties in well with exploring the broader moorland around here rather than as a standalone day trip. The peak works best as part of a walking holiday, not as a one-off detour from Plymouth.