Glen Affric

The drive into Glen Affric feels like you're being slowly pulled into Scotland's most striking wilderness. Ancient Scots pines line the valley, the kind of trees you half expect to see a red squirrel dart across, and the Affric River threads through it all like a silver ribbon. The glen stretches for miles, but most visitors head to the lower end near Beauly where the scenery is most accessible and the walking options range from gentle riverside strolls to proper hill treks.

This is where serious hikers come. The trail up to Loch Affric itself takes a good three hours return and climbs steadily through woodland before opening out to genuinely breath-stopping views. Families with younger children can still get the essence of it on easier paths closer to the car park - the landscape does most of the work. That's also true if you're just after photographs. The light hits those mountains differently every hour, and the reflection in the loch on a calm day is the kind of thing that makes you understand why people move to the Highlands.

Free to visit, no facilities to speak of, so bring what you need. The nearest proper amenities are back in Beauly. Cannich Woodland Camping and Caravan Park sits a short drive away if you're making a weekend of it. Worth allowing a full day minimum - rushing through Glen Affric feels like a waste. Come early morning or late afternoon when it's quieter, and bring layers. The weather can shift faster than you'd think.