natural BEAUTY

1 Inversnaid, Loch Lomond

Part of the Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park (A), the RSPB Nature Reserve at Inversnaid, on the east shore of the loch, is an important woodland area of some 800 hectares, including rare Atlantic oaks.

The reserve climbs from sea level to the top of Beinn a’ Choin. You can approach it by road, but even better during high season are the regular cruises across the loch from Tarbet to Inversnaid.

Expect to see black grouse, redstarts and pied flycatchers, and listen out for the wood warbler. Pine martens live in the woods and you might also glimpse peregrines, ospreys and golden eagles.

Web www.rspb.org.uk/reserves-and-events/reserves-a-z/inversnaid

Where to stay

On the western side of the loch, you’ll find Loch Lomond Holiday Park perfectly placed to enjoy the best of the area, including the many watersports on offer.

Web www.argyllholidays.com/parks/loch-lomond-holiday-park

2 Glen Affric, Highlands

Widely celebrated as ‘the most beautiful glen in Scotland’, the reserve at Glen Affric () is a wonderful combination of lochs,