Lochan Laoigh

You'll find Lochan Laoigh tucked away in the hills above Tarbert, and it's the sort of spot that rewards a proper walk rather than a quick car park visit. The loch itself is small but genuinely striking - dark water ringed by steep bracken-covered slopes that feel properly remote even though you're only a few miles from civilisation. The walk in takes about forty minutes depending on your fitness, following a forestry track that climbs steadily through mixed woodland before opening out to views across the water and down towards the Clyde.

This is walkers' territory, no question about it. History buffs might appreciate that you're in Clan MacNeill country, though the loch itself won't tell you much beyond its own quiet beauty. Kids need to be reasonably keen on the hike - it's not a casual stroll, and there's no playground or café at the end, just the loch and the hills. The payoff is solitude, though, which in high summer is genuinely valuable.

There's no admission charge because there's no infrastructure, which is both the appeal and the limitation. The best time to go is May through September when the weather's most reliable and the midges at least have some mercy. Allow a full afternoon including the walk both ways. If you're basing yourself at Port Ban Holiday Park or Tarbert Holiday Park, Lochan Laoigh makes for a proper half-day expedition that gets you away from the caravan park clatter without driving far. It's not for everyone, but if walking matters to you, it's worth the climb.