Loch Caillte

The water here sits still most days, mirror-smooth and deeply blue. Loch Caillte, tucked into the Highland landscape a few miles from Beauly, is the sort of place you stumble upon rather than plan for - which suits it perfectly. It's a proper working loch, used for water supply, so don't expect facilities or crowds. What you get instead is solitude and good walking ground around the shoreline, with native Scots pine forest pressing close on one side.

This is water to admire from the walking trails rather than launch yourself into. The loch sits at 600 metres elevation, so there's a decent climb to reach it, but the views back across the glens make it well worth the effort. Walkers will get the most from it - bring proper boots and waterproofs, as the ground can be bog-soft after rain. History types will appreciate the isolation; this area was contested Jacobite country, and the loch's name suggests older Highland tales.

If you're based at Cannich Woodland Camping and Caravan Park, just a short drive away, Loch Caillte makes a cracking afternoon expedition. Allow three to four hours for a proper circuit, depending on fitness. There's nothing touristy about it - no admission charge, no visitor centre, no gift shop. Exactly as it should be. The nearest real facilities are back in Beauly, so pack a flask. Early morning visits are recommended; you'll have the place to yourself, and the light on the water is genuinely special.