Lochan Fada

There's something deeply quiet about Lochan Fada that most visitors miss entirely. This small, dark loch sits in the Highland landscape near Strathcarron, surrounded by heather and rocky slopes that rise up on all sides. It's the sort of place where you can stand alone for twenty minutes without seeing another soul.

What you're doing here, really, is walking. Access is straightforward - park near the loch and take one of the rough tracks that loop around the water's edge. The walk takes between one and two hours depending on how much you dawdle, which you probably will. The water reflects the sky in an almost unsettling way, dark and still. On a grey day, which is most days, it feels properly atmospheric.

This is terrain for walkers rather than casual visitors. Families with small kids will find it a bit bleak and muddy underfoot. But if you're based at Port a Bhaigh Campsite or Shieldaig Camping & Cabins nearby, it's a solid half-day option when the weather isn't dramatic enough for higher mountains. Bring proper boots - the ground gets boggy - and go early to avoid the midges in summer.

It's not a destination in itself, to be honest. The Highlands around Strathcarron offer far more dramatic scenery. But as part of a wider walking holiday in the region, Lochan Fada serves a purpose. It's the sort of place that stays with you more than flashier lochs, mainly because so few people bother with it.