Loch Freasdail

Water this still and dark doesn't come around often. Loch Freasdail sits in proper remote Argyll countryside, about four miles from Tarbert, and it's the sort of place you stumble upon rather than plan for. The loch itself is small compared to its more famous neighbours, but that's exactly why it works - you won't find crowds here, just dark water reflecting whatever sky manages to break through the cloud cover.

It's a walker's spot, really. The surrounding terrain lends itself to a gentle circuit rather than anything ambitious, and the views back down the loch as you move around it improve with every few hundred metres. Birdwatchers do well here too - golden eagles have been known to work this area, though you'll need patience and decent binoculars to have any luck.

There's no visitor infrastructure to speak of, so come prepared. An hour is enough time to walk the perimeter and feel like you've actually been somewhere, though serious hikers might push it to two hours if the weather holds. Free to visit, naturally, since there's no one there to charge you.

If you're based at either Tarbert Holiday Park or The Gather (the latter's only a touch further away), Loch Freasdail makes a solid half-day outing to break up the park routine. It's not Instagram-famous, and it doesn't need to be.