Loch Eas Domhain

The water here sits perfectly still most days, reflecting the Perthshire hills like a dark mirror. Loch Eas Domhain is a proper deep loch - the name actually means "deep water loch" in Gaelic - and it genuinely lives up to that. It's not the most famous of the region's lochs, which is rather the point. You'll find it tucked away near Crieff, away from the crowds that descend on Loch Earn and Loch Tay.

What you get is a straightforward, beautiful stretch of water surrounded by woodland and moorland. There's a decent road that runs along one side, giving you access to walk the shoreline or simply park up and sit with a thermos. Anglers come here regularly for brown trout and pike, so if you fish, this is a proper draw. Non-anglers will find it rewarding for a peaceful walk or just standing about contemplating things - the kind of loch that rewards doing very little at all.

It's best visited outside peak summer weekends when you're more likely to have space and quiet. Spring and autumn are particularly good, when the light's interesting and midges are fewer. Allow an hour or two for a leisurely walk, or longer if you're the contemplative type.

If you're staying at Loch Earn Leisure Park just three miles away, Loch Eas Domhain makes a cracking alternative to the busier tourist-heavy spots. Similarly, it's a short drive from Loch Tay Highland Lodges. It's the kind of place that makes sense as a break from doing things - which, in Perthshire, is genuinely welcome.