Lochan Eun

The walk down to Lochan Eun takes about twenty minutes from the main road near Tarbert, and it's one of those Argyll spots that rewards you for making the effort. You're looking at a small but proper loch surrounded by birch and pine, the kind of place where you genuinely feel removed from things even though you've only wandered a short distance inland.

It's a cracking spot for a quiet afternoon if you're staying at Port Ban Holiday Park - close enough for a half-day outing without needing to pack a picnic or plan anything too ambitious. The loch itself is maybe fifty metres across at its widest, which means it feels intimate rather than grand. Good for photographers who like reflections on still days, and walkers will find the terrain manageable, though the track can be muddy depending on recent weather.

Families with young kids might find it a bit of a slog if anyone's prone to complaining about the walk - there's not much to actually do once you arrive beyond looking at the water and maybe spotting some birdlife. Older children or teenagers keen on nature and getting off beaten paths will find it worthwhile. There's no cafe, no facilities, no interpretive board telling you what you're seeing. It's just a loch in the Argyll landscape, which is exactly what makes it appealing if you want something genuine rather than packaged.

Free to visit and open whenever. Go on a clear day for the best light, and check the path conditions after rain.