Loch Carn Tarsuinn

The water here is properly dark, the kind of dark that makes you wonder what's underneath. Loch Carn Tarsuinn sits in the Highland landscape near Fort Augustus, quiet and genuine - not the sort of place you'll trip over tour groups. It's a modest loch, nothing flashy, but that's rather the point.

You come here to walk the shoreline, to sit with a flask and watch the light change across the water, or to fish if you've got the inclination. The landscape around it is rough and real - no gift shops, no visitor centre with a café. Just you, the hills, and the loch itself. Families with older kids who don't mind a bit of rough ground will find it worth the detour; younger ones might get restless quickly.

Allow a couple of hours if you're planning a proper wander rather than a quick stop. There's no entrance fee to pay - it's just there, free to access. Spring through early autumn is best; winter can be grim, though stunning if you like dramatic weather.

If you're camping nearby at Loch Ness Holiday Park or Inver Coille, this makes an excellent morning trip before heading back for lunch. It's close enough that you won't spend half your day driving, but far enough away to feel properly remote. The contrast with the busier Loch Ness experience is refreshing - this is where you come when you want to actually think.