Loch a' Phollain

The water here is so clear you can see straight through to the rocky bottom, which is precisely why folk keep coming back to Loch a' Phollain. It's a proper wee loch sitting in the Highland landscape near Sutherland, the sort of place that rewards a walk even if you're not expecting much from the name.

What you get is straightforward - a small freshwater loch surrounded by moorland and the occasional craggy outcrop. There's no visitor centre, no tearoom, no fanfare. You turn up, park nearby, and walk round the shore if the mood takes you. It's free, obviously. The clarity of the water is the real draw here; photographers come specifically for that, and fair enough - on a calm day it's striking. The walks around it aren't arduous, making it decent for families who fancy a gentle stretch without committing to a full ridge hike.

Local history buffs might find the isolation interesting - this area has seen everything from Norse settlement to sheep farming - but Loch a' Phollain itself is more about the landscape than the stories. Allow an hour or so if you're combining it with other stops in Sutherland.

If you're based at Clachtoll Beach Campsite just 2.3 miles away, this is an obvious add-on to a morning walk. The campsite's five-star rating speaks for itself, and having a loch this accessible means you can break up the typical day-trip routine without driving far.