Crieff Golf Club

The rolling fairways at Crieff Golf Club sit on high ground above the town, commanding views across Perthshire that distract even the most focused golfer. This is a proper championship course - 18 holes of gentle but intelligent design that rewards accuracy over brute length. You'll find yourself weaving through stands of mature trees, with heather rough that catches the careless shot. The clubhouse has that solid, welcoming feel Scottish clubs do well, all wood panelling and views that stretch towards the Tay Valley.

It's not a beginner's course, though handicap golfers needn't feel out of place. Visiting players are welcome (book ahead through their website), and greens fees sit at a reasonable level for the quality. Allow a full morning or afternoon for the round, plus time to potter about the practice ground beforehand if you're not golf-sharp.

Stay at Braidhaugh Holiday Lodge just 1.6 miles downhill in Crieff itself, and you're five minutes from the first tee. If you'd rather trade golf for something softer, Comrie Croft's five-star site sits four miles away and offers a gentler pace - though their restaurant and farm shop rival the golf club for reasons to visit. The course works brilliantly as part of a Perthshire week where you mix sport with exploring Glen Turret or wandering Crieff's quietly decent high street. September and May offer the best weather, though the course plays year-round.