Dubh Lochan

The water sits dark and still, ringed by low hills that feel properly remote despite being barely ten minutes from Alexandria. Dubh Lochan is a small freshwater loch on the edge of Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park, and it's the sort of place you stumble upon rather than plan for.

There's not much to do here in the conventional sense. You can walk around the shore - takes about an hour at an easy pace - or fish if you're into that sort of thing. The banks are muddy in places, the water's peaty and dark, hence the name (dubh means black in Gaelic). It's genuinely lovely on a clear day, with decent views across to the hills, though don't expect dramatic peaks or Instagram moments.

Family groups will find it a bit underwhelming for a dedicated trip, but it's brilliant as a side-walk if you're basing yourselves at Milarrochy Bay Camping and Caravanning Club Site just three miles south. Keen walkers might use it as a quiet alternative to the busier lochs nearby - fewer people, no café, no visitor centre, just water and trees. Birdwatchers occasionally spot something worth noting.

There's no charge and no fixed hours, which is typical of Scottish lochs. Allow an hour if you're just doing a quick circuit, longer if you're bringing kids who like splashing about at the water's edge. Best visited on a dry day - the paths get boggy otherwise. Honestly, it's more of a bonus detour than a destination in itself.