Loch Ness

The loch itself stretches for over 20 miles, dark and deep, backed by steep hillsides that rise sharp against grey Scottish skies. Most people come chasing the monster myth, but what you actually get is one of Britain's most dramatic freshwater landscapes - proper moody on a cloudy day, which is most days.

You can walk the full length if you're committed (and have a week), but most visitors stick to the Urquhart Castle stretch near Inverness, about half an hour's drive away. The castle ruins themselves are worth the climb for the views back across the water. On the loch itself, you've got boat tours if you want to get out on the water, though the real appeal is the walk along the northern shore - it's gentle enough for families but far enough from the road that you feel properly in the Highlands.

There's nothing to pay at the loch itself. Allow a couple of hours if you're just poking about, longer if you want a proper ramble. Winter's actually decent if you can handle the cold - fewer tourists and the light hits differently on grey afternoons.

Stay at Highland Glen Holiday Park, 22 miles south, and you've got a solid base for exploring the whole area without the constant stream of tour buses. Loch Ness works best as part of a wider Highland trip rather than a standalone thing. Worth the drive? Yes, but temper expectations about cryptids.