Loch Baile a' Ghobhainn

The loch sits in that quiet corner of Argyll where most visitors heading to Oban blast straight past without a second glance. It's a proper water body - dark, still, and ringed by the kind of low hills that make you understand why people settle here rather than elsewhere. The walk around it is gentle enough, taking maybe forty minutes if you're not dawdling, though the banks get boggy in places so wellington boots aren't a bad shout.

This one's for people who actually want silence. No gift shops, no car parks with facilities, no interpretive boards telling you what you're looking at. Just the water, the hills, and whatever weather Argyll decides to throw at you. Families with restless children might find it a bit dull after twenty minutes - there's nothing to do except look and walk. But if you're after a proper break from the caravan site routine, it delivers.

Nearest town is Oban, which means you're well positioned between the various parks in the area - Tralee Bay and Highfield are both under four miles away, making this an easy detour on a morning. The loch works best as a breathing space in a bigger Argyll holiday rather than a destination in itself. Go early or late in the day when the light's better and the midges less ambitious. Free, obviously, and open all hours since there's nowhere to close.