Heltor Rock

The walk up Heltor Rock rewards you with proper 360-degree views across Dartmoor and beyond - on a clear day you can see all the way to Exeter. It's a straightforward climb from the car park, steep in places but nothing that'll have you gasping too hard, and takes the best part of an hour there and back depending on fitness.

Once you're up top, the trig point marks the summit and the landscape just opens out. You're looking at moorland rolling away in every direction, with the occasional distant glimmer of buildings to break up the heather. Walkers will want to be here early to dodge the crowds, and families with older kids will find it a solid afternoon activity - though anyone under eight might find the climb a bit much without moaning about it.

It's free, obviously. No facilities at the summit, so bring water and something to eat. Best visited outside school holidays if you can help it, and definitely not on foggy days when you'll see about twenty metres in any direction and wonder why you bothered.

Based near Exeter, you're well-positioned for a proper Dartmoor break. Sunsets & Marshmallows Glamping sits just 4.2 miles away if you fancy something a touch nicer than a standard caravan pitch, or Barley Meadow Touring Park is equally close and sorted for families. The rock makes a good morning mission before heading to other bits of the moor, or pair it with a walk down into one of the river valleys nearby.