Fingask Loch

The water at Fingask Loch sits perfectly still most mornings, mirroring the Perthshire hills above it in a way that makes you understand why people bother coming out here at all. It's a modest body of water - nothing dramatic, nothing that'll make you gasp - but there's something calming about it that rewards the short drive from Perth.

This is fishing territory, mainly. If you've got a rod and a permit, you'll find pike and perch waiting. Even without one, a walk around the loch works perfectly fine as a break from a caravan holiday at Blairgowrie Holiday Park, just twenty minutes away. The paths are straightforward, the water's always there to look at, and it won't eat up your whole afternoon if you've got other plans.

The real value is in the quietness. You won't find crowds here, and that's either brilliant or tedious depending on what you're after. For families wanting a gentle leg-stretch between activities, it's worth an hour. For serious walkers, you'll likely want something with more elevation - head towards the higher ground beyond Beech Hedge instead. Bring binoculars if you're into birds; there's usually something to spot.

Allow an hour or so for a proper look around. Free to access, naturally. Best visited when it's not bucketing with rain, though Scottish lochs rarely give you that choice. Time it right and you'll have the place to yourself.