Duff House Royal Golf Club

The course sits right on the Moray Firth coast near Macduff, and there's something properly special about teeing off with sea views stretching away to the horizon. Duff House Royal is an 18-hole links course that demands respect - the wind off the water can turn a decent swing into a wild adventure in seconds.

You'll walk the same fairways that have challenged golfers since the club was founded, and the layout punishes sloppy shots but rewards decent ones. The rough is rough here, and the greens are quick. If you're a mid-to-high handicap player, expect to lose a few balls to the gorse. That's not a criticism, it's just what links golf does.

Golfers will absolutely get their money's worth, but casual visitors won't find much to do. This is a proper course for people who actually play. Families should know the course can take a good four and a half hours to walk round, and there's nothing for non-golfers to occupy themselves with.

Stay at Myrus Holiday Park or Banff Links just down the road - both are within spitting distance - and you can wake up, walk to the club, and be playing by mid-morning. The Moray Firth coastline is proper dramatic in winter when the weather's up, but summer rounds here on a settled day are hard to beat. Book ahead; it's busy with members.