Maiden Loch

The water here is still and dark, fringed with Scots pine and heather that slopes down to the shore. Maiden Loch sits in proper Highland country near Sutherland, the kind of place where you'll hear nothing but wind and the occasional splash of trout. It's a freshwater loch, modest in size but genuinely atmospheric - the sort of spot locals know and tourists miss.

You can walk the perimeter if you've got the legs for it, though the path gets boggy in places. Fishing is the main draw if you're into that sort of thing; the loch's got a decent reputation for brown trout. Even if you're not casting a line, it's worth a visit just to sit and stare. The light changes constantly here - one minute brooding, the next almost luminous.

This isn't somewhere to spend half a day unless you're a serious walker or angler. An hour or so of proper looking about does it for most people. Bring waterproofs; the weather turns quick in the Highlands. It's free to visit and there's no formal entrance, just pull in near the water.

Clachtoll Beach Campsite is barely a mile away, making this an easy morning walk from your pitch. If you're based there exploring the North West coast, Maiden Loch works as a quieter counterpoint to the coastal trails. Not dramatic like Loch Assynt or Loch Shin, but it has its own drawn quality.