Loch Scammadale

The water here is dark and still, ringed by low hills that rise gradually rather than dramatically. Loch Scammadale sits just inland from Oban, tucked into Argyll in a way that means most visitors heading to the bigger lochs miss it entirely. That's rather the point. You can walk the shoreline at a reasonable pace, spot the occasional cormorant, and get a proper sense of what the Scottish landscape does when nobody's watching. There's nothing flashy about it - no visitor centre, no facilities that I could find - but that's precisely why it works. The loch is small enough that you won't feel like you're trailing round a reservoir, but large enough that you get actual views rather than a pond. Walkers will find it worth the detour from Oban, especially if you're already staying at one of the nearby holiday parks like Loch Awe Camping Pods or Oban Holiday Park. Reckon on allowing two hours if you're doing a full circuit, though you can dip in for thirty minutes and still get the benefit. Best visited out of peak season when the midges aren't quite so determined. Families with young kids might find it a bit dull - there's nowhere to really play, and the walk is gentle rather than adventurous. But if you're the sort of person who enjoys Scottish lochs without the crowds, this delivers.