Loch Fleet National Nature Reserve

The loch opens up without warning as you come round the bend near Dornoch - a proper expanse of water and tidal flats that shifts character completely depending on the light and the tide. Loch Fleet is a working nature reserve run by NatureScot, and it's the kind of place that rewards patience rather than spectacle. You get wading birds in serious numbers - ospreys, sea eagles if you're lucky, dunlin and greenshank picking over the mudflats. There's a viewpoint at Skelbo where you can stand with binoculars for hours, or walk the easier trails that loop around the edges without needing serious boots.

The reserve works best for serious birdwatchers and photographers who'll spend a morning properly watching. Families with young kids might find it a bit slow - there's not much to do except look and listen - but older children interested in wildlife will absolutely get it. Walkers should allow two to three hours for a circuit; the paths are well-maintained but can be boggy after rain.

It's free to access and sits nicely within reach of either Parkdean Resorts Grannie's Heilan' Hame or Dornoch Caravan & Camping Park if you're basing yourself in Sutherland for a few days. Spring and autumn bring the best bird activity, though winter has its own quiet drama when the light gets low early. Worth the detour if you're into watching rather than doing.