Loch of Leys

The water here is properly still on a calm day - mirror-flat, reflecting the Aberdeenshire hills like you've walked into a photograph. Loch of Leys sits just outside Banchory, a short drive from the caravan parks clustered nearby, and it's the sort of place that rewards a quiet morning walk rather than a rushed afternoon visit.

It's a small freshwater loch, nothing dramatic, but that's rather the point. You get decent birdwatching if you're patient - divers and grebes show up regularly - and the walk around the edge takes about an hour at a steady pace. The banks are manageable, though you'll want proper shoes after rain. On weekends it can get a bit busier with locals, but midweek it's genuinely peaceful.

Histories types might appreciate that this area has been worked for centuries - you'll spot old estate walls and remnants of the wider landscape management. It won't grip young children for long unless they're keen on spotting waterfowl, but teenagers who like a quiet ramble will get something from it.

Based here in a caravan at Silverbank or Banchory Lodge - both rated five stars and within spitting distance - you could easily tack this onto a morning before heading elsewhere. It's free to visit and there's a small car park. Go in spring or early autumn when the light's better and the midges aren't ferocious. Don't expect a visitor centre or facilities beyond that, but expect genuine peace.