Loch an Dùin

The water at Loch an Dùin sits surprisingly still, ringed by trees that rise straight up from the banks - it's the kind of place that makes you understand why people camp round Pitlochry and never leave. This isn't a destination that'll take half your day, but it's absolutely worth the short drive from town if you want a quiet walk and a spot for a proper sit-down.

It's a small freshwater loch, really, with a walking path that loops round it. The whole circuit takes maybe forty minutes at a leisurely pace, longer if you stop to watch the water or take photos. The trees press close enough that it feels more intimate than grand - you're not going to get knocked sideways by views, but there's something rather settling about it. Walkers will appreciate the gentle terrain and the woodland atmosphere. Kids might manage it without too much fuss, though there's not much to actively do once you've walked it once, so don't expect them to entertain themselves for hours.

The loch works well as a morning or late-afternoon add-on if you're based at Faskally Woods or one of the other caravan parks within a few miles. Grandtully Station Campsite is barely two miles away, so you could easily fit this in around other Pitlochry activities - rafting, theatre, the usual stuff. Early morning is best if you want the place to yourself, which you probably will. The ground can be boggy after rain, so decent walking boots make sense. Free to access and no faffing about with admission times.