Moore Pond

A modest body of water in the Scottish Highlands that serves as a decent spot for a quiet walk, Moore Pond sits just outside Beauly and works best as a break-in-journey rather than a destination in itself. The water itself is unremarkable - calm, reflective, surrounded by bog and moorland - but what makes it worthwhile is the sense of space. The Highlands have a way of making even small lochs feel significant.

It's the sort of place where you'll encounter more red squirrels than people, which is precisely why it appeals. Walkers using the area as a base will appreciate it for a straightforward half-hour ramble before heading back to Beauly for a proper meal. Families with young children get restless quickly here unless they're after tadpoles or ducks, which there are aplenty in spring. Photography types might find something worth capturing in mist, but don't expect drama.

Stay at Beauly Holiday Park three miles away and you've got decent access without needing to trek far. The pond works as a morning sortie before tackling something more substantial like a proper hill walk. Dingwall Camping and Caravanning Club Site, five and a bit miles off, also positions you within striking distance if you're planning a broader tour of the area.

Entry is free, obviously. Allow an hour maximum, less if the weather turns. Go in late spring when the moorland is greening up, or autumn when the light softens everything. Winter feels bleak here without being dramatic enough to compensate.