Loch Doon is a beautiful freshwater loch in Ayrshire, overlooked by Glessel Hill and the Rhinns of Kells. Today a picturesque beauty spot, the loch has an illustrious past. In the 13th century it was the site of a castle owned by the Earls of Carrick, later passing to the Kennedy Clan, before being destroyed on the orders of King James V. In the 1930s, the castle’s remains were dismantled and relocated to the loch’s western shore to prevent their submersion following the construction of a hydroelectric dam. During the First World War, Loch Doon was used for pilot training, and the remains of an airfield, slipways, piers, jetties, hangars, and tramways built for this purpose can still be seen along the shoreline today.
A café beside the loch is an ideal spot to enjoy a cup of coffee while taking in the surrounding scenery. In spring, visitors can also view a live osprey cam, offering close-up images of the pair of ospreys that have returned to Loch Doon each year since 2012, successfully raising an impressive number of chicks.
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Situated within the stunning Cairngorms National Park, Loch Morlich is a freshwater loch surrounded by Caledonian pine forest and overlooked by towering mountains. Renowned for its golden sandy beaches and crystal-clear water, the loch is a magnet for outdoors enthusiasts who come to enjoy a variety of water sports including kayaking, canoeing, paddleboarding, windsurfing, and sailing.
A scenic walking route loops around the loch with breathtaking views of snow-capped mountain peaks and excellent opportunities to spot wildlife along the way such as red squirrels, pine martens, beavers, dippers, wagtails, herons, and ospreys. Mountain biking is also popular around the loch with trails ranging from family-friendly forest tracks to more challenging climbs up into the Cairngorms mountains.
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Stretching for over 25 miles in the heart of Argyll and Bute, Loch Awe is Scotland’s longest freshwater loch surrounded by stunning mountains and glens. The shores are dotted with a handful of small villages and rural communities nestled below densely wooded hillsides. On a rocky peninsula on the northeastern edge of the loch stand the ruins of Kilchurn Castle built in the middle of the 15th century as the base of the Campbells of Glenorchy one of the largest and most powerful Highland clans.
The loch is surrounded by a network of trails suitable for all abilities. Walkers can enjoy routes through forests and along the shoreline, or challenge themselves with a hike up Ben Cruachan for panoramic views of the loch and beyond.
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Meaning ‘loch of the island’ in Gaelic, Loch an Eilein is a picturesque loch hidden within the ancient Rothiemurchus Forest in the Cairngorms. A favourite spot for picnics, an island lies in the centre of the loch with the ruins of a 13th century castle. Believed to have been built by the powerful Scottish baron John Comyn III of Badenoch, the castle once served as a refuge from thieves and cattle rustlers.
A well-maintained, low-level circular path winds around the loch, sheltered by pine trees from where you can spot wildlife such as Scottish crossbills, crested tits, and capercaillies. Nearby, there is a parking area for motorhomes and campervans, along with a small shop selling gifts and light refreshments.
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Loch Duich is a sea loch on Scotland’s west coast, set within the stunning landscape of Wester Ross. It is best known for Eilean Donan Castle, which stands on a small tidal island at the meeting point of Loch Duich, Loch Long, and Loch Alsh. Originally built in the 13th century, the castle lay in ruins for almost 200 years before being restored to its former glory in 1932 by Lieutenant Colonel John MacRae-Gilstrap. Today, visitors can explore its rooms, with a collection of period furniture, Jacobean artefacts, collections of weapons, and fine art, while learning about the castle’s significant role in Scottish history.
Loch Duich lies at the foot of the Five Sisters of Kintail, a dramatic ridge stretching for around five miles and rising steeply from Glen Shiel to heights of over 3,500 feet. The rugged peaks offer a classic ridge walk, with demanding ascents and sections of light scrambling. Those who reach the top are rewarded with magnificent views across the loch and the surrounding Highlands.
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Loch Katrine is an eight-mile-long freshwater loch set in the heart of Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park. Renowned for its beauty, it has inspired many literary figures, including Samuel Taylor Coleridge, William Wordsworth and Sir Walter Scott, who wrote his famous poem The Lady of the Lake after visiting the loch.
One of the best ways to explore Loch Katrine is by steamship cruise from one of its two piers, offering visitors the chance to admire the dramatic forest scenery from the water. Keep an eye out for wildlife along the way, including ospreys that nest around the loch, red squirrels darting through the trees on its banks, and, if you’re lucky, a golden eagle circling overhead. Cycling is also popular, with a quiet trail running alongside the shoreline. Brenachoile Point, a small grassy peninsula that featured in the Outlander television series, is a particularly lovely spot to stop for a picnic.
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Loch Lomond is the largest expanse of freshwater in the British Isles, covering just over 27 square miles. It forms part of Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park and traditionally marks the boundary between the counties of Stirlingshire and Dunbartonshire.
A haven for watersports enthusiasts, the loch offers jet skiing, water skiing, kayaking, canoeing, paddleboarding, windsurfing, and boating. It is also a popular destination for open-water swimming and angling.
Dozens of walking and cycling routes surround the loch, ranging from gentle strolls to more challenging hikes, all rewarding visitors with stunning views across the water and the surrounding forests, glens, mountains, and rivers. At the southern end lies Loch Lomond Shores, a mixed leisure and retail destination with an aquarium, a birds of prey centre, beaches, and acres of woodland and meadowland rich in wildlife to explore.
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Located in the historic county of Kirkcudbrightshire, Loch Ken is a nine-mile stretch of freshwater set in the picturesque Glenkens, that is fed from the north by the Water of Ken.
On its banks sits the Galloway Activity Centre, offering a wide range of activities in beautiful surroundings. On the water, visitors can enjoy paddleboarding, windsurfing, rowing, kayaking, and fishing, while nearby pursuits include archery, climbing, mountain biking, and zip wires. The area is also rich in wildlife, with red kites, ospreys, deer, otters, and wintering geese and ducks frequently spotted. A boat tour along the loch is one of the best ways to take in both the scenery and the wildlife.
At the northern end of the loch stand the ruins of Kenmure Castle, a former castle and mansion believed to have been the birthplace of John Balliol, King of Scots from 1292 to 1296. It later became the seat of the Gordon family of Lochinvar. Although its origins are medieval, much of the structure visible today dates from the 17th century. Legend has it that the castle is haunted by a headless piper, known locally as “The Headless Piper of Kenmure”.
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Described by Queen Victoria as “a wild but not large lake, closed in by mountains, with a farm-house and a few cottages at its edge”, Loch Lee lies in the southern Grampians at the head of Glen Esk. It is fed by the Water of Lee and the Water of Unich from the west, and by the Water of Mark from the north.
The Loch Lee Glen Esk Circular Walk is an excellent trail that crosses open moorland with an abundance of wildflowers before climbing steeply past the Falls of Unich and the Falls of Damff. Along the way, keep an eye out for peregrine falcons, black grouse, and ring ouzels, with the occasional golden eagle soaring overhead.
Trout and salmon fly fishing are available on the loch from May to September. Fishing is by boat only and must be booked through Invermark Estate.
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Set within the Cairngorms National Park, Loch Garten is a freshwater loch surrounded by the ancient Caledonian pines of Abernethy Forest, much of which is managed as an RSPB reserve. The forest supports a remarkable variety of wildlife, including crested tits, capercaillies, red squirrels, bank voles, siskins, and common lizards, along with an abundance of dragonflies and damselflies in the warmer months.
A pair of ospreys breed at the loch each year, and visitors can watch them build their nest and rear their chicks from the Loch Garten Osprey Centre, a bird watching centre equipped with binoculars and spotting scopes, as well as screens showing close-up footage of the adults and their fledglings.
There are numerous waymarked trails through the forest, along with circular routes around the loch itself. Keep an eye out for goldeneye, long-tailed duck, tufted duck, Slavonian grebe, greylag goose, and pink-footed goose on the water. The loch is also a popular wild swimming spot due to its calm waters and spectacular views.
Loch Ness is a large freshwater loch in the Scottish Highlands that contains more water than all the lakes in England and Wales combined. It is, of course, most famous as the supposed home of Nessie, a cryptozoological monster that several scientific investigations have yet to uncover.
The magnificent medieval fortress of Urquhart Castle stands on its shores, where visitors can explore over 1,000 years of history while touring the Great Hall, prison cells. and the Grant Tower, a 16th-century five-storey tower house. The modern visitor centre houses a remarkable collection of artefacts, including a full-sized working trebuchet.
On the south side of the loch are the Falls of Foyers, a spectacular waterfall with a 140-foot drop into a gorge that winds through forest before eventually meeting Loch Ness. The falls have been a popular visitor attraction since Victorian times, and in 1787 Robert Burns commemorated them in his poem Lines on the Fall of Fyers, near Loch Ness.
Situated off the Firth of Clyde, Loch Fyne is Scotland’s longest sea loch, stretching 40 miles inland from the Sound of Bute. Its waters are home to dolphins, seals, and otters, while basking sharks can sometimes be spotted during the summer months. The loch is also a prime birdwatching destination, attracting coastal species such as gannets, black guillemots, and red-throated divers, alongside wading birds including oystercatchers, curlews, and greenshanks, all of which make regular appearances.
Loch Fyne is renowned for its seafood heritage, particularly its oysters, mussels, and herring. At the northern end of the loch sits a family-run brewery that draws water from the surrounding hills and produces ales in converted farm buildings. Its taproom is open throughout the week for drinks, with brewery tours available at weekends.
The loch’s sheltered waters also make it a popular diving destination, with an abundance of marine life. Near the village of St Catherine’s, divers can explore a boulder-slope reef, a submerged telecommunications cable, and a wrecked speedboat, while close to Barmore Island lie the remains of the SS Arran III, a 132-ton steel steamship, and the Margaret Niven, a 41-ton iron steamship. Local charter companies offer guided dives, training courses, and equipment hire.
