Lochan Mhic Chuardig

This small loch sits tucked into the Argyll landscape near Taynuilt, and honestly, it's the kind of place you stumble upon rather than plan for. The water is dark and still, surrounded by moorland that shifts colour depending on the season - golden in late summer, properly bleak come winter. There's not much to "do" here in the tourist attraction sense. You walk to it, you look at it, you might sit for a bit if the midges aren't too fierce.

It works best for walkers who know the area or locals after a quiet spot away from the busier Loch Awe just down the way. The walk itself matters more than the destination - moorland paths, views opening up as you gain height. Kids might find it dull unless they're the outdoorsy type already; there are no facilities, no visitor centre, no tea room. Just water, hills, and silence.

If you're camping at Loch Awe Camping Pods nearby, this could be a half-day detour on a decent weather day. It's free to access and takes maybe an hour or two depending on where you start walking from. Don't go expecting the drama of the bigger lochs - this is understated, quiet, and genuinely wild. Proper Argyll. The light here in late afternoon is something else though, worth timing your visit for.