Widecombe Village Green

The green at Widecombe sits like a proper little time capsule, surrounded by thatched cottages and moorland views that explain why people have been settling here for centuries. This is less of a formal nature reserve and more a village commons - the real draw is the landscape itself and the walks that branch out from here into Dartmoor proper.

What you get is access to genuine moorland walking without the organised visitor infrastructure. Park up near South Brent, a short drive away, and you're onto open country within minutes. The village green itself is free to wander - no gates, no fees, no nonsense - and it's the starting point for some excellent half-day loops across the moor. Walkers will love it. Families with young kids might find it a bit exposed and windswept on an average day, but if the weather's kind, it's brilliant for letting them loose on the grass with proper views of the tor landscape.

The spring and early summer are best - fewer midges, and the moorland flowers are proper decent. Allow two to three hours if you're combining the green with a walk onto the moor itself. It works particularly well as a quieter alternative if Dartmoor National Park, just under five miles away, feels too crowded. You won't find a café or visitor centre here - bring your own supplies. The appeal is the genuine thing: raw moorland, working village life, and the sort of walking that requires you to actually engage with the map rather than follow a designated path.