Loch Etive

The water here is genuinely striking - a long sea loch that cuts deep into Argyll with mountains rising sheer on either side. Loch Etive stretches for about 19 miles, and most visitors only see a fraction of it, usually from the A85 near Taynuilt where you get sudden glimpses between the trees.

You can walk along sections of the shore if you're willing to scramble a bit, but honestly the best experience is from the water itself. Boat trips run from the mouth of the loch near Connel, which let you see the real scale of the thing - the mountains close in properly once you're on it, and the light changes constantly. If you're not keen on boats, park near Taynuilt and walk the southern bank towards Invercharnan; it's a solid two-hour round trip with decent views across the water.

This works well if you're based at Loch Awe Holiday Park just down the road - only a 20-minute drive - and frankly it's more dramatic than Loch Awe itself. The water gets proper wild weather though, so timing matters. Summer evenings are grand, but midweek you'll have the place to yourself.

Walkers and photographers will get hours out of it. Families might find the walks a bit dull unless the kids are keen on scrambling through trees for views. It's not a destination in itself - you don't need half a day here - but it's absolutely worth the detour if you're touring the area.