Rosemarkie

The beach at Rosemarkie curves away like someone's drawn it with a ruler - miles of sand backed by dunes that shift with the seasons. It's a proper Scottish Highlands beach, which means it's moody: grey skies one minute, blinding sun the next, and the light does something strange to the water that photographs never quite capture.

This is a nature reserve, so the whole headland is protected. You get the beach itself, obviously, but also the cliffs and grassland where you'll spot seabirds if you're lucky and bring binoculars. The geology is interesting if that's your thing - the red sandstone here tells a story about how old this landscape actually is. Most people come for the beach walk though, and it's a grand one. You can wander for hours without seeing another soul on weekdays.

Fortrose is literally next door, so it's worth coupling this with a quick wander round the old cathedral ruins and the town's quiet high street if you're staying at Fortrose Bay Campsite just down the coast. That campsite gets rave reviews and you're in an absolutely cracking position for exploring the whole Black Isle.

There's no admission charge - it's a beach and a reserve, not gated off. Best visited out of season if you want to avoid the summer crowds. Walkers should allow at least two hours for a proper explore, though you could easily spend a whole afternoon here if the weather holds.