Sanders Loch

A shallow loch sits about three miles south of Thurso, rimmed with moorland and the kind of big northern sky that makes you understand why people come to the Highlands. Sanders Loch isn't dramatic - no mountains plunging into the water, no Instagram-famous vistas - but that's rather the point.

It's the sort of place you visit if you're genuinely interested in what the landscape does when it's left alone. Birdwatchers find it worthwhile, particularly in spring and autumn when migrating species turn up. Walkers doing the longer circuits through the peatland bog get a proper sense of the terrain's character. The water itself is dark and still, reflecting whatever weather's rolling in, and there's something about the quietness that makes the occasional splash feel like an event.

You won't need more than an hour unless you're doing a proper moorland walk. Getting close involves heading cross-country from the road - it's not manicured or signposted, so come prepared for bog and heather. Free, obviously, and no facilities to speak of. Come in decent weather; in rain or mist it's rather bleak.

If you're camping at Little Croft Highlands, just down the road, it's a natural addition to a day's exploring the far north. Pair it with a walk around Dunnet Head or a visit to Thurso's modest harbour. It's not a destination in itself, but it's the kind of place that makes a Highland holiday feel authentic rather than merely scenic.