Coire Eas na Caillich (Scout Pool)

The pool sits in a steep-sided glen just outside Callander, reached by a proper walk through woodland that'll take the best part of an hour each way. Scout Pool - or Coire Eas na Caillich if you want the Gaelic - is a natural plunge pool fed by a waterfall, and it's the sort of place that makes the Scottish Lowlands feel genuinely wild, even this close to civilisation.

Walkers will get the most from this one. The track down is narrow and muddy in places, with a scramble at the end, so it's not for the unfit or anyone with dodgy knees. Once you're there, the pool itself is surrounded by high rock walls, which is dramatic rather than Instagram-pretty. It's cold, obviously - this is Scotland - and some people do swim in it during summer, though you'll want to be committed to the cause.

There's no admission fee and no visitor facilities, so bring what you need. The walk alone takes two to three hours if you're not rushing, and the reward is solitude rather than spectacle. It works well if you're staying at Callander Woods or Keltie Bridge - both within easy reach - and looking for a proper outing rather than a quick stop-off. In summer, the glen is green and the light's good. Winter's bleak but atmospheric if you're into that.

Honestly, it's worth doing once if you like walking and water. Don't expect to linger long at the pool itself unless you're swimming. The journey is the thing.