Loch Carn Bingally

You won't find Loch Carn Bingally on many tourist maps, which is rather the point. It's a small, quiet loch tucked into the Highland landscape a couple of miles from Beauly, the sort of place locals know about and visitors stumble upon by accident. The water reflects whatever mood the Scottish sky is in - pewter on grey days, properly blue when the sun decides to show up.

There's no visitor centre or facilities to speak of, just the loch itself and the hills around it. It's decent for a walk if you're based nearby, particularly if you're camping at Cannich Woodland just down the road. You could easily spend an hour here pottering about, though it's not the kind of place you'd drive an hour to see in isolation. The banks are accessible in places, though watch your footing after rain.

Families with young kids might find it a bit flat for their purposes - there's no drama to it, no waterfall or dramatic crag. But for someone who wants a gentle leg-stretch with actual water views rather than another moorland trudge, it works well. Walkers and photographers will appreciate the peace; it's the antidote to busier lochs further north.

Visit mid-morning for the best light. It's free, obviously - it's a loch. Allow 45 minutes to an hour if you're combining it with other Beauly-area walks, which you almost certainly will be.