Loch Lànnsaidh

The water here is dark and still, fringed by heather-covered slopes that rise up without fuss. Loch Lànnsaidh sits in the Highlands near Tain, and it's the sort of place that rewards you for bothering to find it - most people driving through this part of Sutherland will miss it entirely.

It's genuinely beautiful in that understated Highland way. There's no visitor centre, no car park with facilities, just a proper loch doing what lochs do best. You can walk the shoreline, cast a line if you're into that, or simply sit on the bank and watch the light change on the water. The surrounding hills are lovely for walkers wanting a gentle slope rather than something testing, and the whole spot has that peaceful, slightly remote feel that makes you understand why people come to the Highlands in the first place.

The town of Tain is your nearest proper stop for supplies or a warm drink afterwards. If you're staying at one of the nearby caravan parks - Dornoch Caravan & Camping Park is decent enough at 5.2 miles away, or Parkdean Resorts Grannie's Heilan' Hame if you want something with more amenities - you could easily fit a loch walk into your morning before heading elsewhere. Allow an hour or two depending on how much wandering you fancy.

Worth the detour? Yes, if you're in the area. On its own as a day trip from further south, probably not. But as part of exploring this particular corner of the Highlands, it's exactly the kind of low-key spot that makes these holidays proper.