Loch a'Bharra Leathain

The water here is dark and still, reflecting cloud and mountain in a way that makes you question whether you're looking at the loch or its reflection. Loch a'Bharra Leathain sits in proper remote Argyll terrain, a few miles inland from Tarbert, and it's the sort of place you stumble upon rather than deliberately seek out - which is partly why it's worth the drive.

There's no developed infrastructure, no cafe, no visitor centre. What you get instead is landscape: the loch itself, ringed by moorland and low hills, with that particular Scottish quiet that feels almost deliberate. It's a walker's destination, really. The shoreline offers decent rambling if you're happy picking your way over boggy ground, and the views open up nicely if you push back from the water a bit. On a clear day the visibility can be exceptional. Most people allow an hour or two depending on how far they wander.

Families with younger kids might find it a bit underwhelming - there's nothing to do in the conventional sense, and bog boots are non-negotiable. But if your lot are old enough to enjoy wild spaces and don't need activity stations, they'll likely find it brilliant. Photographers should come before noon when light's better on the water.

It works well as a half-day excursion from either Port Ban or Tarbert Holiday Park. You could combine it with a walk around Tarbert itself or push further into the Kintyre peninsula. Free access, open year-round, though midges can be savage in summer.