Burford Down

The walk up Burford Down takes about twenty minutes from the car park, and it's genuinely worth the effort. You're climbing onto moorland that opens up proper Devon countryside - rolling hills, wide skies, and on a clear day the views stretch far enough to make you forget you're only a short drive from Plymouth.

It's a straightforward walk. The path is well-trodden, the gradient steady rather than brutal. Once you reach the top, you get the sense of being somewhere important - there's a Bronze Age barrow up here, which adds a bit of weight to the landscape beyond just the scenery. The stones and earth mounds are ancient. Standing there, you understand why people have been drawn to high ground for thousands of years.

History types will get the most from Burford Down. Families with reasonably fit children will manage it fine - allow a couple of hours including the walk and time at the summit. The moorland can be wet underfoot after rain, so proper footwear matters.

If you're staying at one of the nearby glamping sites - Dartmoor Domes or Hidden Hill with their hot tubs - this makes a natural morning outing. Ashbourne Woods is another option close by. The walk fits perfectly into a Dartmoor holiday without eating up your whole day, and it gives you actual elevation and space without needing to tackle the bigger peaks. Honest assessment: it's not dramatic enough to justify a special trip on its own, but as part of a weekend in the area, it's absolutely the sort of thing you should do.