Loch Braigh a'Bhaile

The loch sits remote and quiet in the Highland landscape near Sutherland, a proper slice of Scottish water that doesn't get trampled by tour buses. It's the kind of place you find by accident or after a tip from someone who actually knows the region - no fancy visitor centre, no gift shop, just the loch and the hills around it.

What you get is straightforward: a freshwater loch where the water's clear enough to see why people fish here, with moorland sloping down to the shore. The light changes constantly on the water, which sounds daft to say, but it genuinely does - one minute it's gunmetal grey, the next almost blue. There's a good path round the loch if you want a walk, though the terrain's boggy enough in places that proper boots matter.

Walkers and photographers will find it worthwhile. Families with young kids might get an hour out of it before restlessness sets in, unless they're the type who enjoy just sitting by water and scanning for wildlife. Birdwatchers get excited about this sort of place.

If you're based at Clachtoll Beach Campsite just down the road, Loch Braigh a'Bhaile makes a solid morning outing before heading back for coffee. It costs nothing, takes as long as you want - half an hour for a quick look, two hours if you're walking the perimeter. There's no entry fee, no opening hours fussing. Bring a packed lunch if you're settling in for the day.