Lochan na Craoibhe

The water here is so still you'd think it was glass. Lochan na Craoibhe sits tucked into the Highland landscape near Beauly, a modest loch that doesn't shout about itself but rewards the effort to find it. The name means "loch of the trees" in Gaelic, and that's exactly what you get - dark water ringed by conifers that run right down to the shoreline.

It's the sort of place walkers stumble upon rather than seek out deliberately, which is rather its charm. There's no visitor infrastructure to speak of, no car park with ice cream vans or themed attractions. You come here to walk the perimeter if you fancy it, to sit on the banks and watch for movement in the water, or simply to escape the bustle of Beauly a short drive away. Most people allow an hour or two depending on how long they dawdle.

Families with young kids might find it a bit underdeveloped - there's not much to do beyond the walk itself. But for anyone seeking a quiet interlude during a Highland holiday, particularly those staying at Cannich Woodland Camping and Caravan Park just five miles away, it's well worth the short trip. Walkers and photographers will appreciate the light filtering through the trees, especially in late afternoon when the whole scene takes on a proper golden hue. Free to visit, naturally, with no restrictions on access that we're aware of. Best in drier months when the ground isn't boggy underfoot.