Lochan Fhuarain Mhoir

This tiny loch sits tucked into the hills above Ullapool, and it's the sort of place you find by accident rather than intention. The water is dark and still, ringed by heather and rough grass, with no facilities or crowds to speak of. You can walk round it in about twenty minutes if you're dawdling, less if you're keen, and the views back down towards Ullapool and the sea are genuinely good.

It's a walker's spot more than anything else. Families with small children might find the walk a bit bleak and featureless unless they're the hardy type - there's no playground, no cafe, no viewing platform. But if you're staying at Port a Bhaigh Campsite just down the hill, it's a cracking half-hour outing for stretching legs and getting proper Highlands air. The loch itself is nothing fancy, but the walk up is pleasant enough and you get a sense of being somewhere genuinely remote, even though you're minutes from town.

Best visited on a clear day when you can see across to the mountains. Midges can be savage in summer, so plan accordingly. It's free and open year-round, which is the only way such a place survives. The campsite location makes this a natural fit for a longer holiday in the area - you can pair it with proper walks in the surrounding glens or a day out exploring Ullapool itself.