Loch na Cuiche

The water here is so still it looks like dark glass. Loch na Cuiche sits tucked into the Highland landscape near Kyle, and it's one of those places where you'll barely encounter another soul, which is precisely why it's worth the trip.

What you get is a proper Scottish loch experience without the crowds you'd find at the more famous spots. The shoreline is rough and boggy in places, wooded in others, and the hills rise up around you in that way that makes you understand why people get so sentimental about the Highlands. There's a walking route that takes you around part of it if you've got the legs for it - rough terrain but nothing technical. You can fish here too if that's your thing, though you'll need to check local permissions first.

It's the sort of place walkers and photographers actually enjoy, not because it's spectacularly dramatic, but because it's genuinely quiet. Families might find an hour here pleasant enough, though younger kids could get restless without a specific trail to follow. The loch works well as a half-day outing alongside other Highland activities rather than a full day destination.

If you're based at Reraig Caravan & Camping over on Skye, it's only six miles across the water, making it an easy morning jaunt. There's no visitor centre, no facilities to speak of - just you, the water, and a bit of Highland solitude. Bring waterproofs. Always bring waterproofs.