Loch Long

The water here is deep and cold and stretches for miles between steep hills. Loch Long sits just north of Arrochar, a proper slice of Scottish Highland scenery that doesn't demand much from you except a willingness to get out and look. You're not climbing anything or paying an entry fee - you simply turn up and take in one of Argyll's most dramatic freshwater lochs.

What makes it worthwhile is the raw scale of the place. The loch runs narrow and long (hence the name), hemmed in by steep wooded slopes that rise almost immediately from the water's edge. On a clear day you can see right down the length of it. On a grey day - which is often - the hills disappear into cloud and the whole scene turns moody and proper atmospheric.

This suits walkers far more than anyone after a day of activities. The Southern Upland Way passes through here, and there are decent paths along the shoreline if you fancy a couple of hours on foot. Families with young kids might find thirty minutes of standing about looking at water a bit thin, but teenagers who appreciate landscape rather than theme parks will get it.

The three holiday parks nearby - Forest Holidays Ardgartan is closest at just 1.4 miles, while Inverbeg sits at 5 miles - all make decent bases if you're planning a week in the area. Loch Lomond Holiday Park at 3.4 miles gives you options. Loch Long doesn't need a full day to itself, but it's absolutely worth a stop if you're staying in the region. Go early morning or late afternoon when the light works harder.