Loch Benachally

Drive past Blairgowrie heading north and you'll find Loch Benachally tucked into the Perthshire hills - a proper working water supply that happens to be one of those lochs you stumble upon and think, why isn't everyone here? The setting's the thing. Conifers rise steeply on three sides, the water's dark and still, and there's a walking path that loops the shoreline without too much faffing about. Takes maybe forty minutes at a decent pace.

You won't find concessions or picnic tables. This is a functional loch first, attraction second. The appeal is straightforward - it's quiet, it's Scottish, and the views back toward the surrounding forest are genuinely lovely. Walkers will find it worthwhile, though it's not a dramatic destination on its own. Families with young children might get restless after the initial wander; teenagers could easily kill an hour here if the weather's decent. Best visited in autumn or spring when you're not battling midges.

It works well as a morning stop if you're based at Corriefodly Holiday Park nearby - takes about ten minutes to reach. Pair it with a visit to somewhere with more infrastructure and you've got a solid morning's outing. Bring a waterproof jacket whatever the forecast says, and wear proper shoes on the path after rain. The loch doesn't shout about itself, which is rather the point.