Lochan Sgeirach

A small, dark loch tucked into the hills above Gairloch, Lochan Sgeirach is the sort of place you stumble upon rather than deliberately hunt down. The water sits moody and still most days, ringed by heather and rough grass, with mountains rising up behind it. It's genuinely quiet - you won't find crowds here, which is half the appeal.

The walk in takes about 45 minutes from the nearest car park, following a loose track that winds uphill through proper Highland terrain. Nothing technical, but you'll want decent boots and a map because waymarking is minimal. Once you reach the loch, there's not much to "do" in the traditional sense. You stand there. You look at the water. You breathe. If the light's right, it's genuinely atmospheric. If it's drizzling - which, this being Scotland, it probably is - it's atmospheric in a different way.

Families with older kids (say, eight upwards) will manage the walk fine. Younger ones might grumble. History buffs won't find plaques or ruins. Photographers will get decent moody shots. Serious walkers often pass through en route to bigger peaks.

It's free, obviously - there's no visitor centre or facilities. Go when the weather's settled if you want the view; go when it's sketchy if you want the atmosphere. Allow two to three hours round trip. Sands Caravan & Camping sits just four miles away near Gairloch, making this a solid afternoon excursion from a base there. Worth the detour? Only if you value solitude over spectacle.