An Lochan Dubh

An Lochan Dubh sits tucked into the Highland landscape near Gairloch, a small dark loch that doesn't announce itself loudly but rewards those who bother to find it. The water is properly peaty-black, reflecting the moorland and low mountains around it in that moody way Scottish lochs do when the light's right.

It's the kind of place walkers stumble upon rather than plan for. There's no visitor infrastructure, no café, no car park with interpretive boards - just the loch itself and the hills. You're looking at perhaps thirty minutes to an hour here, depending on whether you fancy walking the perimeter or simply settling on a decent rock for a bit. The moorland walk in is straightforward enough, though the ground can be boggy after rain.

Families with young children might find it underwhelming - there's not a great deal to actually do - but older kids who've got the hiking bug will appreciate the wildness of it. It's genuinely one for walkers and photographers rather than those after a tourist attraction experience.

If you're staying at Sands Caravan & Camping near Gairloch, An Lochan Dubh makes a solid afternoon excursion. It won't eat up your whole day but it's the sort of place that justifies a Highland holiday - somewhere quiet where you're genuinely away from things. Go when the weather's decent; a grey downpour here feels like actual isolation.