Lochan na Doire-uaine

The water here is startlingly clear - you'll spot the rocky bottom even in the deeper sections, and on a windless day it reflects the surrounding hills so perfectly you're not sure where the loch ends and the sky begins. Lochan na Doire-uaine sits in the Monadhliath Mountains, not far from Newtonmore, and it's the sort of place that rewards a bit of effort to find.

This is proper walking territory. The approach takes you through moorland and forest, and the loch itself feels genuinely remote despite being accessible - you won't find tea vans or gift shops here. The water's cold enough to make you think twice about swimming, though folk do it. Most visitors come for the walk itself rather than to spend hours by the shore, and that's the right approach. Allow two to three hours for a gentle circuit if the path is clear, longer if you're taking your time with photographs.

Families with older kids will manage fine; younger ones might find the moorland walk a bit of a slog on the way back. Walkers and landscape photographers are the real audience here - you come for the Highland scenery and the sense of being somewhere proper wild. It's free, naturally, and there's no set season, though winter can make access tricky.

If you're based at Laggan Glamping or one of the caravan sites nearby, this works as a proper half-day excursion. Combine it with other Monadhliath walks for a full exploration of the area. Worth the detour if you're already in the Newtonmore region.