Auchintaple Loch

A shallow loch sitting quietly between farmland and heather moorland, Auchintaple is the sort of place you stumble upon rather than travel miles to find. The water's dark and still most days, reflecting whatever sky decides to show up - which in Perthshire can change five times before lunch. There's no visitor centre, no car park with facilities, no café selling overpriced sandwiches. Just the loch itself, reedy at the edges and popular with birdwatchers who know what they're after.

The walk around it takes maybe 45 minutes at a leisurely pace, depending which path you take and how often you stop to look at things. It's gentle terrain, nothing challenging, so it suits families with younger kids or anyone after a quiet spell away from the main attractions. Anglers fish here too - locals know it holds pike and trout, though you'll want to check on permits before casting a line.

Blairgowrie sits about five miles south and makes a sensible base if you're exploring this corner of Perthshire. Glenshee Glamping, just 3.5 miles away, offers a more upmarket stop if you're after some comfort with your countryside. The loch works best as part of a bigger day out - combine it with a walk in the wider hills, or head to Loch Tay or Loch Earn nearby. On its own, most people spend an hour here maximum. It's peaceful rather than spectacular, and that's rather the point.