Exeter

Walking boots are essential here. This corner of Devon sits right on Dartmoor's eastern edge, where ancient granite tors rise from wild moorland and archaeology whispers from every hillside. Exeter's cathedral city bustle feels a world away from this landscape of stone circles and Bronze Age settlements.

Spinsters' Rock draws walkers year-round - this Neolithic dolmen stands defiantly against the skyline, though getting there means a proper hike across open moor. The stone circles scattered across these hills tell stories stretching back millennia, while Kes Tor Round Pound offers one of Dartmoor's best-preserved Bronze Age settlements.

Tor-bagging becomes addictive once you start. Scorhill Tor and Kestor Rocks provide cracking views across the moor, while the scramble up to Hunters Tor rewards with panoramas stretching to the coast. Middle Tor and Shilstone Tor are less visited but equally rewarding for those wanting solitude with their summit views.

Castle Drogo Chapel, part of Lutyens' extraordinary 20th-century castle, adds architectural drama to the natural grandeur. The Mythic Garden's sculptures create an unexpected art trail through this ancient landscape.

Exeter lies about 12 miles southeast, easily reached by car down the A30. The market town of Okehampton sits closer, just a few miles north, making it handy for supplies and that essential post-walk pint.

Staying at one of the nearby parks puts you right in walking boot territory. You can be on the moor within minutes, exploring tor after tor without the daily drive from Exeter. Wolf Wood Treehouses and Devon Heaven Hideaways offer glamping with hot tubs - perfect after a day scrambling over granite. The touring parks provide excellent bases for serious Dartmoor exploration, with Dartmoor National Park itself offering direct access to this magnificent wilderness.