Loch Farr

You won't find crowds at Loch Farr. It's a proper local secret tucked away in the Highlands, maybe six miles from Inverness if you fancy a drive out from Go Glamping at Loch Ness. The loch itself is quiet and undramatic - no glitzy visitor centres or overblown facilities, just water, hills, and the sound of wind in the grass.

It's the kind of place walkers actually appreciate. The terrain around it rewards exploration without demanding fell-walking boots or previous mountaineering experience. You can loop the shoreline in a couple of hours, or pick a hillside and settle in with binoculars if birds are your thing. The light changes constantly across the water, which matters if you're into photography.

Families with older kids will manage fine here. Younger ones might find it a bit sparse - there's no playground nonsense, no ice cream van, no constructed attractions. That's either the whole point or a complete bore depending on your lot.

It's free, obviously. No gates, no fees, no nonsense. Just turn up and get on with it. Best avoided in the worst weather - the exposure is real, and there's nowhere to shelter. Calm mornings in autumn are when it genuinely sings.

If you're camping at Go Glamping at Loch Ness, Loch Farr makes a solid half-day excursion. It won't compete with Loch Ness itself, but that's rather the appeal.