Curling Pond

The water at Curling Pond sits still most days, reflecting the Perthshire hills like a dark mirror. It's a modest body of water near Killin - nothing that'll make you gasp, but worth knowing about if you're staying at Loch Tay Highland Lodges or anywhere nearby and fancy a quiet walk without the crowds that throng the bigger lochs.

This is genuinely good for a short leg-stretch, particularly if you've got restless kids who need getting out of the lodge for half an hour. The pond itself doesn't demand hours of your time - maybe twenty minutes of wandering round the shore, spotting whatever waterfowl might be about. On a clear day the surrounding hills give you decent views without requiring any real hiking.

The real strength here is its accessibility. It's close to Killin, easy to reach, and free (parking details aren't widely advertised, but that's typical for smaller Scottish attractions). The terrain's straightforward enough for anyone, which beats some of the more ambitious walks in the area.

If you're basing yourself at Loch Tay Highland Lodges - just under four miles away - you could easily slot this in as a morning outing before tackling something more ambitious. Don't expect drama or photo-stop moments. This is quiet water, trees, and space. That's rather the point. Go when you want solitude rather than spectacle.