Loch Losgunn

The water here is properly still most mornings, reflecting the hills in a way that makes you question whether you're looking at the loch or its mirror image. Loch Losgunn sits a short drive from Lochgilphead in Argyll, and it's one of those places that rewards turning up without massive expectations.

It's a working landscape rather than a showpiece. You'll find locals fishing from the banks, and there's a rough track that lets you walk partway round if you fancy stretching your legs. The loch itself isn't dramatic - no Loch Ness theatre here - but there's something genuinely appealing about its quietness. The surrounding hills roll rather than soar, and on a decent day the light does something interesting with the water.

Bring binoculars if you're into birds. The shoreline attracts wildfowl, and if you're patient you might spot something worth photographing. It's not a destination that'll swallow hours of your time, but as a half-hour diversion while based near Lochgilphead, it works well. Free to visit, obviously.

Worth combining with the nearby caravan parks - both Lochgilphead Caravan Park and The Pod Over By sit close enough that you could use Loch Losgunn as a morning walk before breakfast, then head elsewhere for the day. It's the sort of spot that locals know and visitors miss, which is rather the point.