Lochan nan Rath

The water here is dark and still, ringed by low hills that rise straight from the shore. Lochan nan Rath is a proper small loch, the kind you can walk around in under an hour, sitting just outside Oban in Argyll. There's no visitor centre or café - it's just water, heather, and the occasional moorland bird. You come here to walk, to sit with a coffee from town, or to photograph the reflections on a calm day. The loch itself doesn't demand hours of your time, but it's exactly what you need if you're staying at one of the nearby caravan parks like Loch View or North Ledaig and want a gentle outing away from the bustle.

It's the kind of spot families with younger kids will enjoy as a short circuit walk, though there's not much to keep them entertained once they've done the loop. Walkers and photographers, though, will find it worthwhile - the light changes dramatically depending on the weather, and the surrounding landscape is moody rather than dramatic. Spring and autumn are better than summer if you're trying to dodge midges; winter can be grey and dreich, but that's part of the appeal if you're into that sort of thing.

There's no charge to visit, and you can arrive any time. The real value here is that it's close to Oban town itself, so you can combine it with proper exploring of the coastal town without it eating into a whole day. It's not the kind of destination that justifies a solo trip, but paired with a longer Argyll coast holiday, it's well worth the short drive from your accommodation.