Knockamillie Reservoir

The water here sits calm most days, ringed by forestry that climbs away towards moorland - it's a proper working reservoir, but that doesn't make it any less worth visiting. Knockamillie sits inland from Dunoon, far enough away that the crowds thin out, close enough that it's a genuine local escape rather than a serious expedition.

What you get is a straightforward walk around the water, or part of it depending on how you feel. The path is solid, the views uncluttered. On a clear day you catch the distant hills. It's not dramatic - nobody comes here for drama - but it works brilliantly if you want somewhere to stretch your legs without the circus of the honeypot spots.

For families staying at Beach House Pods just down the road, it's ideal between breakfast and lunch. Walkers won't find it demanding but will appreciate the gentle miles and natural quiet. History buffs can pass through; there's nothing here from five hundred years ago, but the engineering of the thing tells its own story if you're interested in that sort of thing.

Go in the morning if you can. You'll have it more or less to yourself, and the light's better for photography. An hour will do you nicely, two if you want to linger. It's free and requires no planning beyond comfortable shoes. Hunters Quay Holiday Village, slightly further off, makes it a decent day loop if you're mixing your Argyll base with some actual movement.