Lochan Leacach

A small loch tucked into the hills above Ullapool, Lochan Leacach is the sort of place you stumble upon rather than plan for. The walk in takes about twenty minutes from the road - moorland and rough track, nothing technical but it does climb steadily. Once you're there, you've got a proper Highland loch: dark water reflecting the surrounding hills, the sort of quiet that actually feels loud after a while.

Walkers will get the most from this. It's not a destination in itself - you won't spend hours here - but as part of a wider ramble through the Northwest Highlands it works brilliantly. The fishing is decent if you've got a rod. Photography types come for the light on the water in early morning or late evening, though you'll need patience and decent boots.

It's free, obviously. Allow an hour return walk from wherever you park, maybe another thirty minutes if you're sitting about looking at the view. Summer's best - the midges can be grim otherwise, and the track can be boggy in winter.

If you're based at Port a Bhaigh Campsite down near Ullapool, this makes a cracking morning outing before heading into town for lunch. Combines nicely with walking the Rhiddorroch Valley or exploring the coast round about. It's not dramatic enough to build a whole day around, but it's exactly the kind of unvisited spot that makes the Highlands worthwhile.