Loch Bealach Ghearran

The water here is dark and still, ringed by steep hillsides that rise up sharply on all sides. Loch Bealach Ghearran sits inland from Inveraray, tucked into the landscape like a secret that most tourists driving through Argyll never find. It's the kind of place where you hear yourself think - proper quiet, and the reflections on the loch are genuinely impressive on a calm day.

This is a loch for walkers and photographers rather than swimmers or crowds. There's no obvious infrastructure, no visitor centre or cafe, just the water and the hills around it. A good circuit walk takes you round the shoreline in maybe ninety minutes, depending on your pace and whether you stop to stare at the view every five minutes (you will). The terrain is rough in places - boggy patches, uneven ground - so proper boots matter. Bring a camera because the light here shifts dramatically through the day, turning the hillsides from grey to purple to almost gold.

Families with young kids might find it a bit underwhelming; there's no playground or obvious activity beyond walking and looking. But for anyone who likes wild Scottish landscapes without the Ben Nevis crowds, or walkers wanting to escape the main tourist routes around Loch Fyne, it's well worth the detour from Inveraray.

Stay at one of the nearby caravan parks - Strathlachlan is closest at four miles - and make this a quieter morning walk before heading to busier attractions. Allow two to three hours if you want to linger.