Loch Achtriochtan

The water here is so dark it looks black, ringed by steep hills that rise almost vertical from the shore. Loch Achtriochtan sits just outside Ballachulish, and it's the sort of place you stumble upon rather than plan for - which is precisely why it works. The loch itself is small, maybe a mile long, but the mountains crowding around it make it feel properly dramatic. You can walk the shoreline reasonably easily, though it's rough terrain underfoot. Bring boots.

Historically minded visitors will appreciate that this area is soaked in Highland character - you're looking at genuine wild landscape, not theme-park versions of it. For families, a short walk and a paddle in summer works fine, though it's not the sort of place that'll occupy a restless eight-year-old for hours. Walkers will get more mileage out of it, literally - there are decent hill routes heading upward if you're keen.

It's free to visit, and you can access it whenever you fancy. The nearest proper facilities are in Ballachulish itself, just a couple of miles south. If you're camping at Red Squirrel Campsite - only 1.4 miles away - this makes an easy morning or late afternoon sortie. Invercoe is also close by if you're after more facilities. September and October are cracking times to visit: the light gets low and golden, and the midges thin out. Go early in the day if you want solitude; it's quiet enough that you'll probably have it to yourself.