Loch an Tuir

Drive inland from Sutherland and you'll find yourself at Loch an Tuir, a small Highland loch that doesn't announce itself loudly but rewards the effort of getting there. It's the kind of water that catches light differently depending on the weather - sometimes silver, sometimes pewter, sometimes almost black under threatening skies.

This is proper wild country. The loch sits in moorland that rolls out in all directions, with the nearest settlement feeling genuinely distant. There's no visitor infrastructure to speak of, no café, no car park with a view - you simply arrive and walk. The shoreline is accessible in places, and if you're keen on fishing or just standing quiet with binoculars, this works. Birdwatchers find it worthwhile. Walkers heading between Sutherland and the wider Highland wilderness often pass through here.

Being free and unmanaged means you need self-sufficiency. Come prepared for moorland weather - wind, rain, and midges depending on season. Summer is genuinely lovely if you catch a decent day. Winter and spring have their own appeal if you don't mind the cold and unpredictability.

If you're based at Clachtoll Beach Campsite, it's under five miles inland - a proper contrast to coastal camping. The loch works best as a walking destination rather than a sitting-and-relaxing spot, unless relaxing means standing in the wind watching the light change. Worth half a day if you're exploring the wider area. Solitude is the main attraction here.