Loch na Beinne Moire

The water here sits perfectly still on most days, reflecting the mountains like a mirror someone's just polished. Loch na Beinne Moire, near Beauly in the Highlands, is one of those Scottish lochs that doesn't get rammed with tourists, which is exactly why it's worth the drive.

You can walk the shoreline if you fancy it - the terrain's manageable and the views pull you forward without demanding too much effort. It's the kind of place where you might spot a golden eagle if you're lucky and quiet enough. Locals fish here, so you'll occasionally see a rod casting near the eastern bank. The mountains rise up behind you proper steep, which makes the whole thing feel rather dramatic even though you're just standing on a loch shore.

This works brilliantly as a half-day stop if you're based at Cannich Woodland Camping, just three miles away. Pack a flask, bring decent waterproofs - the weather can turn in ten minutes - and allow a couple of hours to walk and soak it in. There's no café, no visitor centre, no phone signal necessarily. That's the appeal.

Families with restless kids might find it a bit too quiet, too slow. But if you want actual Highland scenery without the Glencoe crowds, this delivers. Free to visit, naturally. Best in late spring or early autumn when the midges aren't quite so biblical.