Lochan Cnoc Philip

A small loch tucked into the Argyll hills between Oban and the wider landscape - the sort of place you stumble upon rather than plan for. Lochan Cnoc Philip sits quiet and unassuming, ringed by moorland that shifts from brown to purple depending on the season. The water's dark and reflective, and on a still day you'll catch the surrounding ridges mirrored perfectly on the surface.

It's a walker's spot more than anything else. You won't find facilities or marked trails, but that's rather the point. The lochan works best as a stop during a longer ramble through Argyll's open country, or if you're based at one of the nearby holiday parks like Maggie's Cabin or Tanunda Pods and fancy a morning's exploration on foot. The walk here from Oban takes you through proper Highland terrain - expect bog, moorland, and weather that changes its mind every twenty minutes.

History types won't find much to investigate, and it's too remote for a casual family afternoon. But if you're the sort who loves empty water and big skies, who doesn't mind muddy boots and a map, this delivers. Lochan Cnoc Philip rewards the effort of getting there with solitude and that particular kind of Scottish quiet that makes you remember why you came. Allow a good couple of hours minimum from Oban if you're making it a proper outing.