Loch a' Coire Uaine

The water here is startlingly green - that's the whole draw of Loch a' Coire Uaine, and it doesn't disappoint when you first lay eyes on it. The colour comes from glacial sediment suspended in the loch, which sounds scientific until you see it in person and realise you're looking at something genuinely unusual. It's not a massive loch by Highland standards, but that's rather the point - you can take it in properly without needing binoculars.

Getting here from Kyle means a decent drive into the mountains, but the journey's part of the appeal if you're serious about escaping the tourist trail. The walk to the loch itself is manageable, though the final approach can be a bit boggy depending on recent rain. Allow a couple of hours to do it justice, including time to sit and actually absorb the strangeness of that colour.

Ideally suited to landscape photographers and walkers who want something a touch more off-the-beaten-track than Loch Ness or the other obvious spots. Families with young kids might find it underwhelming - there's no visitor centre, no café, just a loch and the mountains. Which is either perfect or pointless, depending on your outlook.

If you're based at Glenshiel Campsite nearby, this makes a solid half-day expedition. Pack waterproofs regardless of the forecast - the weather changes faster than you'd expect up here.