Loch of Mey

The Loch of Mey sits just outside Thurso, a proper moorland water that catches most people off guard with how wild it feels. It's shallow and peaty, the sort of loch that turns bronze in the right light and feels genuinely remote even though you're only minutes from the town. This is prime territory for birdwatchers - red-throated divers, whooper swans, and waders patrol the margins depending on season. The walk round takes about forty minutes at a leisurely pace, and there's a decent car park that doesn't get rammed.

For keen ornithologists, this is honestly brilliant. For families with young kids expecting a dramatic Highland loch view, you might find it a touch underwhelming on first glance - it's low-key, boggy, and the water disappears into moorland rather than rising up to mountains. That said, kids who like spotting wildlife will be absorbed for hours. The light here is exceptional in late afternoon, especially through autumn and winter when the visitor numbers drop to almost nothing.

It's entirely free and you can wander whenever. Allow a couple of hours if you're doing the full circuit with a telescope or good binoculars. Little Croft Highlands sits less than a mile away, making this a natural half-day add-on to a camping stay. Pair it with the flow country trails nearby and you've got a solid northeast Highlands itinerary. Don't come expecting drama - come for the quiet and the birds.