Lochan Dubh

The water at Lochan Dubh is properly dark - almost black on an overcast day, which is most days in Argyll. This small loch sits quietly near Tarbert, far enough from the main road that you won't stumble on it by accident, but close enough that it makes a worthwhile detour if you're staying at Port Ban Holiday Park or exploring the wider area.

It's a walker's spot rather than a destination in itself. The shoreline offers decent paths, and the surrounding hills give you something to look at without demanding a full day's effort. The water's calm, the midges less fierce than at some of the larger lochs, and there's a genuine sense of having found somewhere off the beaten track. Fifteen minutes from the car park gets you properly into it; an hour's gentle circuit takes you round the whole thing.

Families with older kids will enjoy it more than those with toddlers - there's no visitor centre or cafe, just landscape and quiet. On a clear day the light reflecting off that dark water is genuinely striking. Go early morning if you can; by afternoon tour groups from nearby attractions tend to swing by.

If you're basing yourself at Port Ban, this is ideal filler between bigger activities - an hour's walk that doesn't require advance planning or a lengthy drive. Not spectacular, but honest and peaceful.