Loch a-Mhahaidh

This remote loch sits high in the Argyll hills, properly off the beaten track. You won't find crowds here - most visitors pass it by entirely on their way to more famous water. The loch itself is shallow and peaty, ringed by rough moorland that turns burnished gold in autumn. It's the kind of place where you hear nothing but wind and the occasional golden eagle call.

Walkers get the most from Lochgilphead area's lochs. The walk here from Lochgilphead (about four miles in) takes ninety minutes or so depending on your pace and how many times you stop to check your bearings. No marked trail - you're navigating by map and landscape, which adds a proper sense of purpose. Bring decent boots; the ground is boggy near the water's edge.

Fishing types know these waters for brown trout. The loch is quiet enough for a few hours' peace, though you'll need your own transport from Lochgilphead and a willingness to rough it a bit. There's no visitor infrastructure whatsoever - no café, no facilities, no car park beyond a pull-in.

If you're basing yourself at Lochgilphead Caravan Park, this makes a cracking half-day expedition rather than a destination in itself. Combine it with lower lochs like Loch Fyne nearby for a proper Argyll water tour. It's free, naturally - and worth the effort if you want solitude over Instagram moments.