Duph Lochan na Beinne Boidhich

The walk to Duph Lochan na Beinne Boidhich rewards you with a proper mountain loch that feels genuinely remote, despite being reachable from Pitlochry in under an hour. You're looking at a small, dark water surrounded by steep hillsides - the kind of place where cloud rolls in fast and light changes by the minute. There's no visitor centre, no facilities, no café. It's just water, rock, and the Perthshire hills doing what they do best.

This is for walkers and landscape photographers, really. If you want a leisurely paddle with the family, look elsewhere. The approach involves proper hiking - expect boggy sections and a decent climb depending on which route you take from Pitlochry. Most people allow two to three hours return, though fitness levels vary wildly. Go early if you can; afternoon cloud swallows these higher lochs whole.

Free, naturally. No gates, no barriers. The nearest campsite is Kilvrecht, about five miles away, which gives you a solid base if you're doing a few days in the area. Pair this with a wander around Loch Tummel or Loch Rannoch if you want easier water-based views. But Duph Lochan itself? It's worth the slog if you're after solitude and don't mind a bit of mud.