Loch Airigh na Beinne

The water here is so clear it's almost unsettling - you can see right down to the rocky bottom even from the shore. Loch Airigh na Beinne sits in the far north near Durness, and it's the sort of place you stumble upon rather than plan for. There's no visitor centre, no car park with a café, just a quiet stretch of water backed by moorland that stretches to the horizon.

It's brilliant for anyone who wants to escape the honeypot lochs. Walkers get proper views across the surrounding hills, and if you're into fishing, the loch holds brown trout. The track to reach it is straightforward enough, though the ground underfoot can be boggy depending on the season. Most people allow an hour or two - enough to walk the shore, soak in the silence, maybe have a packed lunch on the rocks.

There's something genuinely peaceful about a Highland loch with so few people around. You won't find crowds here, which is exactly why it's worth the drive north from Durness. If you're staying at Sango Sands Oasis - five miles away - this makes a cracking morning or afternoon excursion. The caravan park has solid facilities and sits near some of the northwest's best walking, so combining Loch Airigh na Beinne with coastal paths at Balnakeil or Ceannabeinne keeps you busy for days. It's not dramatic in the showy way some Scottish lochs are, but that's precisely the appeal.