Loch a'Chaoruinn

The water here is so dark it's almost black, reflecting the bare hills that rise up around it in a way that makes you feel properly remote. Loch a'Chaoruinn sits in the Argyll landscape a few miles out from Tarbert, and it's the sort of place you end up at because you're exploring rather than because it's on anyone's must-do list.

It's a straightforward loch - about a mile long, fringed with heather and rough grass, with no facilities or marked walks that I could find. The appeal is pure and simple: if you want to sit by water without crowds, this delivers. You can walk the shoreline in places, though it's boggy underfoot and there's no obvious path. The views back towards the surrounding moorland are good, particularly if the light's low and golden.

This works best for walkers and anyone after a bit of solitude rather than families after an afternoon's entertainment - kids will get bored within twenty minutes unless they're the type who enjoy skimming stones and spotting birds. There's no charge, no opening hours because there's nothing to open, and you'll need your own transport to get here.

If you're staying at Tarbert Holiday Park, The Gather, or Port Ban just up the road, this makes a decent morning or late-afternoon walk, especially on one of those crisp Argyll days when the air feels clean enough to cut. Pair it with a proper explore of Tarbert's waterfront and you've got a solid day. Go in autumn or winter when the light's dramatic and other visitors are thin on the ground.