Doon Valley Golf Club

Golf courses don't usually warrant a special trip unless you're genuinely keen on the game, and Doon Valley near Maybole is no exception - but if you are a golfer, it's worth knowing about. This is proper Scottish golf: rolling fairways, challenging bunkers, and the kind of course that asks you to think about your shot rather than just bash the ball. The landscape around here is the real draw - you're looking at Ayrshire's gentle hills and farmland, which does make for a pleasant round even if you're mid-handicap and spending half your time hunting in the rough.

Maybole's about ten minutes away, so it's accessible without feeling like you're driving out to the middle of nowhere. The course itself will take you a solid four hours if you're playing the full eighteen, and you'll want to book in advance - it's not the kind of place that welcomes walk-ups. Greens fees aren't cheap, but that's Scottish golf for you.

For a golf holiday in the area, this works well alongside Freedom Fields Glamping, just four miles down the road. It's not somewhere to drag reluctant non-golfers, mind you - they'll be bored senseless within an hour. But if your group includes keen players, combining a round here with a night or two at the glamping site makes for a decent Ayrshire break. The course is there year-round, though winter play depends on the weather - wet Ayrshire winters can close fairways without warning.