Locham na Gainmhich

A proper wee loch tucked into the moorland between Durness and the northwest coast, Locham na Gainmhich is the sort of place you stumble upon rather than plan for. The name means 'loch of the sand' in Gaelic, and that's exactly what you get - a shallow, sandy-bottomed expanse surrounded by rough grassland and the kind of raw Highland landscape that makes your phone camera feel inadequate.

There's not much infrastructure here, which is rather the point. You can walk round it in under an hour, watch for trout, or simply stand and stare at the water with nothing but the wind for company. It's worth the detour if you're staying at Sango Sands Oasis or exploring the Durness peninsula - the whole area has that end-of-the-world feel that appeals to people who've had enough of crowds. Families with young children might find it a bit bleak and windswept; serious walkers and landscape photographers will think it's brilliant.

Access is free and straightforward. There's parking rough ground near the loch, though nothing formal. Go in summer if you want tolerable weather; go in winter if you want to feel genuinely isolated. The water itself is cold and peaty, so swimming is more a dare than a leisure activity. Best in combination with other Durness attractions - Smoo Cave and Cape Wrath are close by, making this an easy addition to a day's exploring rather than a destination in itself.