Loch Cluanie

This long, narrow loch cuts through the Highlands west of Inverness like a knife through butter, hemmed in by steep mountains on both sides. It's the kind of water that feels properly remote - you won't find crowds here, just serious scenery and the occasional fisherman. The main road runs alongside it, so you can pull over at various spots to photograph the reflections or simply sit and stare at the sheer walls of rock rising up from the water.

It's not a destination with attractions or activities laid on. This is about landscape. Walkers get the most from Loch Cluanie because the surrounding hills offer proper hikes - the routes up towards Affric are challenging and rewarding in equal measure. If you're the type to stop the car every five minutes because the view's changed, you'll love it. Less enthusiastic passengers might find themselves asking how long you're planning to stand here.

Free to visit, naturally. Allow an hour if you're stopping for photos and a walk, longer if you're tackling the hills. The loch sits roughly between Inverness and Skye, making it a sensible detour on the A87 rather than something you'd specifically plan around.

If you're based at Loch Ness Shores, just three miles away, Cluanie works as a morning excursion before heading back for something less austere. The contrast between the two lochs is worth the short drive - Loch Ness feels almost civilised by comparison.