Black Rock Gorge

The River Conon tears through a narrow sandstone chasm just outside Dingwall, and Black Rock Gorge is where the landscape gets properly dramatic. Water froths between vertical rock walls - some sections barely ten metres across - with the stone itself striped in bands of rust and grey. You can walk along the riverside path and get right up close to the force of it, especially after heavy rain when the whole thing roars.

It's genuinely worth stopping for if you're camping nearby, though I'd manage expectations on time. Thirty minutes to an hour covers a decent explore - walk to the best viewpoint, soak in the geology, maybe pick your way down closer to the water if you're comfortable on damp rocks. The path is straightforward enough; nothing technical. Families with young kids will find the scale impressive without being scary, and anyone interested in how glaciation carved the landscape will spot the telltale signs.

Blackrock Caravan Park sits less than a mile away, which is handy for basing yourself here. The Dingwall site five miles further is also solid if you want slightly more facilities. Neither location requires much planning - just turn up and walk. No fees, no timed entry, just park sensibly and get your boots on. Go when the water's flowing properly (so winter or after rain) rather than a dry spell in summer, when it loses much of its appeal. On a grey Highland day with the gorge running high, this is moody and memorable.