Loch a' Chromain

You'll find this small loch tucked into the landscape a few miles north of Campbeltown, and it's the sort of place that rewards those willing to leave the main road. The water sits calm most days, reflecting the surrounding hills with that particular Scottish clarity you get when the light's right. There's no visitor infrastructure here - no café, no car park with a sign - which means you're getting the loch more or less as it comes.

It's genuinely worth the detour if you're a keen walker or someone who just wants to sit quietly by water without crowds. The loch itself is small enough that you can take it all in from the banks, and the walk around it takes a couple of hours depending on your pace. Bring binoculars if you're into birds - there's decent birdwatching here, particularly in spring and autumn.

Families with young children might find it a bit limited. There's not much to do beyond walk and look, and once you've done that, you're done. Teenagers with their phones will complain.

If you're staying at Muasdale Holiday Park or Carradale Bay - both excellent bases, especially Carradale with its water sports and sandy beach - this works as a half-day excursion rather than a full adventure. Go early if you want any peace. The ground can be boggy after rain, so proper boots matter.