Cardross Golf Club

The drive into Cardross takes you through proper golf country - rolling Argyll terrain where the course sits between Alexandria and the Loch Lomond hills. This is an 18-hole layout that's been going since 1894, so it's got that confident, established feel without the pretension of the big championship tracks.

It's a straightforward test for golfers of most abilities. Nothing flashy, but the greens are well-maintained and the routing uses the landscape sensibly. You'll get some decent views across towards Loch Lomond on the better holes, and the walk between greens keeps you moving at a decent pace. Most rounds take around four hours if you're not dawdling.

This is squarely for golfers - non-players won't find much to occupy them for more than half an hour. But if you're staying at one of the holiday parks nearby (Loch Lomond Retreat is particularly well-rated), it's genuinely handy for a round without trekking far. Book ahead through their website; green fees aren't extortionate for the area, though you'll want to ring to confirm current rates.

Go when the weather's settled - Scottish west coast courses can be properly damp in winter, and the greens drain better through summer. If your accommodation is at Stoneymollan or Lomond Woods, you're barely fifteen minutes away, which makes it feasible for a morning nine-holes before heading out for the day.