Loch Seil

The water at Loch Seil sits perfectly still on most days, which is precisely why you'll want to come here instead of fighting crowds at more famous lochs. It's a proper working loch - you'll see fishing boats and locals going about their business - rather than a tourist postcard, and that's its charm.

You can walk the shoreline easily enough, though it's not a dramatic landscape. The hills around it are gentle, more rolling than rugged, and the light does something special across the water in late afternoon. If you've got kayaks with you, this is ideal - the water's calm and there are quieter spots than you'll find elsewhere on the Argyll coast. The loch connects to the sea via a narrow channel, so there's something happening here beyond just a static body of water.

It works best if you're basing yourself at one of the nearby parks - Oban Holiday Park or Argyll Kayaker Cove are both within twenty minutes' drive and give you a proper jumping-off point for exploring this part of the coast. On its own, Loch Seil won't fill a whole day unless you're serious about walking or water sports, but as part of a wider Argyll trip, it's exactly the sort of place that stops you rushing. No entrance fee, no formal opening hours - just turn up and make the most of it. Best visited when the weather's settled; rain turns it grey and unremarkable.