Lochan Sgaradh Gobhair

The walk to Lochan Sgaradh Gobhair takes you up into proper hill country just outside Pitlochry, and it's worth the effort if you don't mind a bit of elevation. This small loch sits in a quiet valley - nothing dramatic, but genuinely peaceful once you've climbed out of the tourist crush of the main town. The water's dark and still, ringed by moorland that turns purple in late summer, and on a clear day you get views back down towards the Tay valley.

It's a decent half-day walk rather than a quick stroll. Most people allow two to three hours for the round trip from the nearest car park, depending on fitness and how long you linger at the top. The path isn't signed brilliantly, so go with a map or download the route beforehand. Walkers will get far more from this than families with small children - it's not a playground, and there's nothing to do once you arrive except stand about and admire the view.

The loch sits free and open, with no visitor facilities or admission charges. Best visited outside summer weekends when Pitlochry's day-trippers clog up the surrounding paths. If you're camping at Faskally Woods or Grandtully Station, this makes a natural morning expedition. Alternatively, base yourself at Milton Of Fonab or Aberfeldy Caravan Park and tackle it as a proper day walk. Not life-changing, but a proper bit of Tayside wilderness that most visitors miss.