Loch Fada Dubh

Dark water, craggy shores, and barely another soul in sight - that's what you get at Loch Fada Dubh. It's a proper Highland loch sitting a few miles outside Drumnadrochit, tucked away enough that most tourists heading to nearby Loch Ness never bother with it. The name means 'dark water' and it lives up to that, the surface reflecting whatever moody sky Scotland can throw at you.

This is a walker's spot more than anything else. There's no visitor centre, no facilities, no interpretive panels telling you what you should think. You get the loch, the hills around it, and the chance to actually hear yourself think. Allow a couple of hours if you're doing the shore walk, longer if you're the type to sit on a rock and absorb the quietness.

It's not going to thrill small children for long - there's no beach, no easy access, and you won't find chip shops nearby. But if you're staying at one of the glamping spots round here, Loch Ness Glamping or Highland Premier, it's well worth the short drive as a morning outing or late afternoon wander. You could easily combine it with the bigger loch next door, though Fada Dubh is the less crowded option.

Free, obviously. Year-round, though winter can be bleak in the best possible way. Best in spring or autumn when the light's soft and the midges are fewer.