Lily Loch

Water this dark and still tends to stop you mid-walk. Lily Loch sits in the Highlands near Beauly, a proper moorland setting where the hills close in and reflections double everything - sky, cloud, the lot. It's small enough that you can walk the perimeter in under an hour, but large enough to feel properly isolated once you're there.

The loch itself is the draw. Swimming isn't advertised, and the banks are marshy rather than sandy, but photographers come here for a reason. Light does strange things on the water, and the Highlands' weather means you're just as likely to get moody grey as you are postcard-blue. Wildlife spotters might see red squirrels or golden eagles if they're patient and quiet.

This isn't a destination in itself - you won't spend a full day here unless you're genuinely into standing still and staring at water. What it is, though, is a cracking half-hour detour if you're based at Beauly Holiday Park or exploring the wider area around Beauly. Walkers heading through the Highlands should factor it in. Kids will manage it fine if they're the outdoorsy type, though there's nothing interactive or particularly dramatic about the place.

Go early morning or late afternoon when the light's best and other visitors are thin on the ground. There's no visitor centre, no café, no facilities to speak of - bring what you need. The nearest substantial town is Beauly, just a few miles south, which makes it convenient for a quick escape if the weather turns.