Winney's Down

The walk up Winney's Down rewards you with proper views across Dartmoor, though it's hardly a secret spot. Starting from near Okehampton, you're looking at a steady climb through moorland that feels wild and genuinely empty - no gift shops, no car parks, just you and the heather. The summit gives you a 360-degree sweep of the plateau, with granite tors puncturing the horizon in that distinctive Dartmoor way.

It's the kind of walk that takes about two hours there and back, depending on your pace and how much you fancy pottering about at the top. Families with decent walkers will manage it fine, though younger kids might find the exposed moorland a bit relentless. History types won't find much to grab onto here - it's more about the landscape than any particular story.

If you're based in one of the holiday parks near Dartmoor National Park, Winney's Down makes a solid half-day outing. The moorland changes colour dramatically through the seasons, so it's worth visiting more than once if you're spending a week in the area. Autumn is genuinely worth the detour when the gorse is golden and the light's coming in low. Go on a clear day - cloud cover turns this into a rather featureless trudge, and you'll lose everything that makes it worth the effort.