Fairy Lochan

The walk to Fairy Lochan takes you through proper Scottish woodland - the kind where you half expect to spot a red squirrel darting between the pines. It's a modest loch, really, nothing that screams drama, but that's rather the point. The water sits quiet and still most days, ringed by trees that double themselves in the reflection. From Aboyne, it's an easy enough drive south before you pick up the forest track.

Allow yourself a good hour for the round trip walk if you're not rushing. The path is well-maintained and manageable for families with older kids, though younger ones might find the approach a bit long for little legs. It's free to visit - no gates, no charges, just pull in and go. The spot works brilliantly as a break from caravan park life at Firbank or Aboyne Loch, both within spitting distance. You get the sense of having walked somewhere without actually having walked very far.

Walkers and photographers will find it worth the detour on a clear day. The water's genuinely peaceful - no boats, no noise, just wind in the trees. It's not going to occupy you for hours, mind you. Thirty minutes by the loch and you're ready to move on. But that's fine. Sometimes the best bits of a Highland holiday are the small discoveries that break up the drive between bigger attractions. Come early if you can; the light's better and you'll have the place largely to yourself.