Cameron House on Loch Lomond

The marina at Cameron House sits right on the water's edge, and you get that immediate sense of being somewhere proper - boats bobbing, the loch stretching away, Ben Lomond rising up across the water. It's a working marina, not a tourist theme park, which means it actually feels alive rather than manufactured.

You can book boat trips from here, rent a kayak or speedboat if you're that way inclined, or simply wander along the jetty with a coffee and watch the water. The setting is genuinely lovely - there's something about seeing the mountains reflected in Loch Lomond that makes you forget you're only an hour from Glasgow. The marina has a restaurant too, though it's pricey for what it is.

If you're staying at one of the nearby parks - Loch Lomond Retreat is practically on the doorstep, just 0.7 miles away - this makes a natural morning or afternoon stop. Families with older kids who aren't afraid of water will get more from it than those with toddlers. Allow an hour or so if you're just looking around; longer if you're doing any watersports.

The real value here is location rather than destination. Cameron House itself is a hotel, but the marina is accessible enough. It's not essential to your trip, but if you're based nearby, it's worth the short detour to spend an hour on the water or sitting with a drink watching the boats. The views are the thing - and they're genuinely good.