Loch na Creige Leithe

Water this remote doesn't announce itself. Loch na Creige Leithe sits tucked away in the Sutherland highlands, the kind of place you find by accident or because someone's sent you deliberately off the beaten track. The loch itself is modest in size but commanding in mood - dark water reflecting granite hills, birch woodland creeping down the slopes. There's no visitor centre, no café, no infrastructure whatsoever. You come here to be quiet.

Walkers get the most from it. The surrounding terrain offers decent hillside roaming with proper views across the loch, and on a clear day the landscape opens up in every direction. Bring a packed lunch and settle for a couple of hours minimum - rushing it would be daft. Families might find it a bit sparse unless the kids are genuinely keen on water and wilderness; there's no playground energy here, just solitude.

Free to visit, naturally. Getting there from Sutherland means you're committing to proper Highland driving on narrow roads, which is half the appeal. Time your visit for decent weather - rain turns it moody rather than magical.

Clachtoll Beach Campsite lies just over a mile away, making this loch an excellent addition to a wider Sutherland camping trip. It works well paired with coastal exploration in the area rather than as a standalone destination. The loch rewards the effort of finding it, but only if you genuinely value emptiness and raw highland scenery.