Torr Dhùin

You'll find yourself at a proper viewpoint rather than a manicured attraction - Torr Dhùin sits above Fort Augustus with views that justify the short drive from town. It's a picnic spot, really, the kind of place where you park up and spread a blanket if the weather cooperates, which in the Highlands is never guaranteed. The outlook sweeps across Loch Ness and the Great Glen, all mountain ridges and water stretching out in front of you. On a clear day it's genuinely worth stopping for. On a drizzly day - which is roughly 60% of them - bring a thermos and decent biscuits.

This works best if you're already staying at one of the nearby parks like Loch Ness Highland Resort or Inver Coille Camping rather than making a special trip. Twenty minutes from Fort Augustus, it slots nicely into a morning or afternoon out if you're exploring that end of the loch. Walkers will appreciate the access to the surrounding trails, though the picnic area itself is more about the view than a destination walk.

There's no visitor centre, no café, no charges that I'm aware of. Just pull in, get out, and see what the Highlands are showing you that day. It's not going to keep anyone entertained for hours, but as a break in a road trip or a quick leg-stretch from your caravan, it does the job. The real appeal is the light changing across the loch and the chance to actually stop and breathe rather than barrel past.