Loch Lommon

The water stretches out dark and still, hemmed in by heather-covered hills that rise steep on both sides. This is Loch Lomond, Scotland's largest freshwater lake, and it's one of those places that genuinely stops you mid-stride. You can walk along the shore near Alexandria - the nearest proper town - and take in the scale of the thing without needing a plan or a packed lunch, though both help.

What you're really doing here is breathing. The loch itself doesn't require entrance fees or tickets; you simply show up. Some folk kayak or fish, others just sit on a bench and watch the water change colour as clouds move across. The surrounding hills offer proper hiking if you've got the legs for it, but frankly, the shoreline walk is enough for most visitors. Allow an afternoon minimum, longer if you fancy tackling any of the peaks.

Families with younger kids will find the water's edge accessible and safe in most spots, though it can get muddy after rain. Serious walkers treat Lomond as training ground for the bigger mountains further north. History types might appreciate the islands dotted across the water - some with ruins, some just moody silhouettes.

Stay at Inverbeg Holiday Park, barely two kilometres away, and you've got the loch on your doorstep. Milarrochy Bay Camping and Caravanning Club Site is another strong option, further round the shoreline. Come when the midges aren't fierce - late spring or early autumn beats summer if you value peace over guaranteed warm weather.