Torridon

Torridon is an estate of some of the oldest rock in Europe: mountains of Torridonian sandstone 750 million years old on a floor of Lewisian gneiss more than 2,600 million years old, cared for by the National Trust for Scotland and recently declared Scotland's newest National Nature Reserve. Five of the Trust's Munros stand here, including Liathach at 1,054 metres and Beinn Alligin at 985 metres, with 18 miles of paths, and pine martens, golden eagles and rare mosses and lichens on the ground. By the countryside centre, closed while its future is reviewed, a small deer museum stands opposite a red deer enclosure, and a hide by the loch is good for otters and birds. Reviewers say the museum is a single room but the deer and the shore walk make the stop. Tips from visitors: the museum is a flat ten-minute walk from the car park, where the public toilets are, and the big hills need full mountain kit.