Glenquey Reservoir

The water at Glenquey sits high up on the Fife moorland, about four miles from Auchterarder, and it's the sort of place you stumble upon rather than plan for. It's a proper working reservoir - no cafes, no visitor centre, no fussing about - just a decent expanse of dark water ringed by rough grassland and the kind of hills that make you think about walking further than you intended.

You can walk around it, though "around" is optimistic phrasing for terrain that's boggy in places and demands sensible boots. The views back towards the Ochils are worth the squelch. Walkers will find this genuinely useful as a waypoint on longer routes across the moorland. Fishermen come here too, though you'll want to check access arrangements before turning up with a rod.

There's not much for small kids to do besides stare at water and throw stones. It's not a splash-about kind of place. But if you're staying at one of the nearby holiday parks - Fossoway Cabins or Greenhill Farm Glamping are close enough - it makes a solid half-morning excursion, particularly if you're the type who finds reservoir walks oddly soothing.

Go in drier months. Summer beats winter, not because the landscape changes, but because your feet will thank you. Allow a couple of hours if you're doing the full circuit. Free to access. It's functional beauty rather than Instagram beauty, which is exactly why it works.