Lossburn Reservoir

The water here sits perfectly still on calm days, reflecting the surrounding hills like a dark mirror. Lossburn Reservoir is a proper working reservoir, not a prettified tourist trap, which means you get the real deal - honest Scottish landscape without the gift shop. The walk around it takes the best part of an hour depending on how much time you spend standing about looking at the water. It's the kind of place that works brilliantly for a leg-stretch after a drive, or for anyone who wants a quiet moment away from the Stirling hubbub.

The reservoir itself doesn't have facilities or dedicated paths - this isn't Loch Lomond. You park up nearby and make your way on foot, which keeps crowds down. Walkers will genuinely enjoy it, and bird-watchers sometimes spot interesting species here. It's not a destination on its own, mind. Rather, it slots in nicely if you're staying at nearby Craighead Howf and want to explore what's around the area beyond the park itself.

The best light is late afternoon when the water catches the sun properly. If you're here in wet weather - and let's be honest, this is Perthshire - it transforms into something moodier and more dramatic. Go on a clear day if you can, but don't skip it if the clouds roll in. The walk is short enough that you'll have time to fit it between other things on your Tayside holiday.