Loch na Beiste

The water here is dark and still, ringed by moorland that slopes down steeply from all sides. Loch na Beiste sits just outside Ullapool, a proper Highland loch without the tourist crowds you'd find at bigger names. The name means "loch of the beast" - local folklore has it there's something in the depths, though these days you're more likely to spot red-throated divers or the occasional golden eagle overhead.

It's a short walk from the road to the shore, though the path can be boggy depending on rainfall. Most people allow 45 minutes to an hour here - long enough to take in the scale of the place and maybe have a sit-down without feeling rushed. The loch itself stretches out roughly a mile, with decent vantage points from the southern bank where you can watch the light shift across the water.

Walkers and landscape photographers will get the most from it. Families with young kids might find it a bit bleak for lingering, though if you're the type who enjoys a moorland trek, it's absolutely worth the detour. Port a Bhaigh Campsite sits barely a mile away, making this an easy morning or late-afternoon excursion if you're based there. Free to visit, obviously - it's a loch. No facilities on-site, so bring what you need. The light's best in early morning or late afternoon when the ridges catch the sun properly.