Curra Lochain

The water at Curra Lochain sits dead still on most days, a small dark mirror tucked into the Argyll hills between Cairndow and the higher ground beyond. It's not a destination that'll take your breath away - the loch itself is modest, more of a locals' spot than a tourist hotspot - but that's rather the point. You get proper solitude here, the kind where you can actually hear the wind in the heather.

Walkers will find the real appeal. The loch works well as a turning point for hill routes or a quiet pit stop on a longer tramp through the area. There's something about the stillness of it that makes you slow down, even if you're just passing through. The surrounding moorland has that austere Highland character - no fuss, no facilities, just bog and stone and space.

If you're staying at one of the nearby parks - Drimsynie is closest at under three miles away, or Stucreoch and Argyll's caravan parks a bit further east - this is a decent morning's walk without the crowds you'd get at the more famous lochs. Bring proper boots though; the ground here is boggy and rough. Half an hour to walk round it, or you can push on into the hills if you've got the legs for it.

Not for everyone, admittedly. Kids will find it a bit bleak, and there's nothing to do except look at water and hills. But if you want a slice of proper Highland Scotland away from the gift shops and coach parties, this delivers.