Lake Louise

The drive north from Tain takes you deep into proper Highland territory, and Lake Louise sits there like a secret most tourists miss entirely. It's a freshwater loch surrounded by moorland and hills - the kind of place where you can actually hear yourself think. The water's dark and cold-looking, the banks are wild rather than manicured, and there's a real sense of being somewhere genuinely remote.

What you do here depends on your mood. Walkers will find decent paths around the loch, though they're not signposted to death like some attractions - you need to use common sense and proper footwear. Fishers come for trout. Photographers show up at dawn when the light hits the water properly. Families with older kids will find it peaceful rather than thrilling - there's no visitor centre, no cafe, no facilities to speak of. Younger children might get restless unless they're the exploring type.

There's no entrance fee and no set hours - you simply arrive. Allow an hour for a gentle walk, two or three if you want to properly explore the shoreline. The best time is May through September when the weather's more predictable, though even then you need waterproofs.

If you're camping at Dornoch Firth Caravan Park or Dornoch Caravan & Camping Park, Lake Louise makes an excellent half-day excursion. It's the sort of place that rounds out a Highland holiday nicely - not a destination in itself, but a proper break from the busier tourist trail.