Loch Sealbanach

The drive to Loch Sealbanach from Beauly takes you deep into proper Highland country, where the landscape shifts from farmland to something altogether wilder. This is a small freshwater loch ringed by moorland and forest - the kind of place that doesn't appear on everyone's radar, which is precisely why it's worth the trip.

It's straightforward to access and free to visit. You can walk the shoreline or find a quiet spot for a picnic, though the loch itself isn't set up for major water activities. The appeal here is the solitude and the light. On a clear day the reflections are exceptional, and even when the weather turns moody - which it frequently does in the Highlands - there's something compelling about how quickly the mood shifts across the water.

Families with young kids might manage an hour here comfortably; walkers and landscape photographers could easily spend half a day. It's the sort of loch that rewards sitting still rather than rushing through. The surrounding moorland offers gentle walking if you want to stretch your legs beyond the shoreline.

If you're basing yourself at Cannich Woodland Camping and Caravan Park, which sits just 6.5 miles away, Loch Sealbanach works well as a quieter alternative to the busier attractions further afield. It won't blow your mind, but it's genuinely peaceful - and that's something the Scottish Highlands do better than anywhere else.