Loch Tallant

The water here sits dead calm most mornings, reflecting the bare hills above it in a way that makes you wonder why you haven't heard more about this loch. Loch Tallant, tucked into Argyll's interior on the Isle of Islay, is the sort of place you stumble upon rather than plan for - which is precisely why it works so well.

It's a proper freshwater loch, nothing fancy, but the walking around it beats anything you'll find at the busier spots nearby. The circuit isn't long, maybe an hour if you're ambling, and the rough ground keeps it quiet even in summer. You'll see red-throated divers if you're lucky, and the light changes constantly as clouds move over the surrounding moorland. Photographers will want to arrive early; the reflections are exceptional when the wind's down.

This is walking country, not a sit-down-and-stare destination. Families with older kids will manage it fine, though younger ones might find the terrain tedious. There's no visitor infrastructure - no café, no car park, just pull up where you can and go. It costs nothing, obviously.

If you're based at Islay Glamping Pods, just four miles away, slot this into a morning while the light's good. Pair it with a proper walk elsewhere on the island - Killarrow Bay or the Rhinns if you want something more dramatic. But don't skip Loch Tallant thinking it's not worth the detour. It absolutely is.