Bennett's Cross

A weathered stone cross standing alone on Dartmoor, about four miles from Exeter, Bennett's Cross is the kind of place that stops you mid-walk. It's modest - not a grand monument, just a granite marker rising from the moorland, but there's something about its simplicity that commands attention. The cross marks a junction of ancient packhorse routes and has been here since medieval times, give or take the odd restoration.

Walkers will find the most value here. It's not a destination in itself - you won't spend an afternoon gawping at it - but it's a brilliant waypoint on a longer Dartmoor ramble. The surrounding moorland is genuinely beautiful, especially in late summer when the heather blooms purple across the hills. From the cross, you can loop off in several directions without hitting a fence or a farm gate, which makes it popular for families wanting a proper walk without the faffing about.

There's no visitor centre, no car park immediately adjacent, and no admission charge - it's just there, free to wander past. Allow 30 minutes if you're passing through, or build it into a two to three hour circuit if you're properly exploring the moor. The nearest town is Exeter, but you're really here as part of a Dartmoor National Park visit. Woodland Springs Touring Park sits closer by if you're basing yourself locally. Go on a clear day - the cross matters less when you can't see the views.