Loch an t-Sithein

The water here is so still it feels unreal, like someone's polished a sheet of dark glass and laid it between the pine trees. Loch an t-Sithein sits just south of Grantown-on-Spey, tucked into the Scottish Highlands in a way that makes you feel properly removed from the world. It's a modest loch - nothing vast or dramatic - but that's rather the point. There's a simplicity to it that draws walkers and photographers who want something quieter than the big-name lochs further north.

You can walk the shoreline or just find a spot to sit and watch for wildlife. The trees crowd in close enough to give shelter but far enough back to let you see across the water. On a decent day it's the kind of place where an hour passes without you noticing. If you're staying at Grantown on Spey Caravan Park - just four miles away - it's a straightforward detour worth making, especially if you've got restless legs and need a change of scene.

There's no visitor centre or facilities to speak of, which some will find refreshing and others might find frustrating. It's not a destination in itself, not really. But as a morning walk or an afternoon break during a park holiday in the Highlands, it works perfectly well. Bring decent footwear if rain's threatening - the ground can get soft - and expect the midges if you're visiting in late summer.