Loch Iain Oig

Head inland from Kyle of Lochalsh and you'll find yourself at Loch Iain Oig, a proper Highland loch that feels genuinely remote despite being only a short drive from the coast. It's the sort of place where you actually hear the wind in the heather rather than just imagining it. The water runs dark and deep, reflecting whatever weather the Highlands throw at you - which, let's be honest, is usually clouds and the occasional dramatic shaft of light.

There's no visitor centre or café here, which is either brilliant or disappointing depending on your mood. You get a car park, a handful of pull-ins, and the loch itself. Walking types will find decent paths around the shoreline, and it's absolutely worth doing in either direction. The views back towards the surrounding hills aren't dramatic in the way Ben Nevis might be, but there's something quite meditative about it - the kind of landscape that grows on you rather than wallops you round the head on first sight.

It works well as a half-hour detour if you're basing yourself at Reraig Caravan & Camping, which sits just under two miles away. Not somewhere to build an entire day around unless you're properly into wild swimming or landscape photography, but undeniably worth the stop if you're exploring this corner of Skye. Admission is free, naturally. Early morning is when it's at its best - fewer people, better light, and the whole place feels properly yours.