Grantown-On-Spey Golf Club

An 18-hole championship course that sits properly in the Scottish Highlands proper, Grantown-On-Spey Golf Club demands respect. The layout rolls through moorland and woodland with enough teeth to keep serious golfers engaged, though it's welcoming enough for club members and visitors alike.

The course plays to a respectable length without being brutally long - think challenging rather than punishing. What strikes you most is the setting: pine-lined fairways with the Cairngorms as a distant backdrop. On a clear day you'll understand why people travel here. The greens are maintained to a high standard and the rough, when you find it, is genuinely rough.

Golfers will get the most from this. If you're a mid-handicapper or better, you'll find proper problems to solve. Higher handicappers shouldn't be put off though - it's not a humiliation machine. You'll need to book in advance as a visitor, and green fees aren't cheap but they're standard for Scottish courses of this calibre.

Allow a full morning or afternoon. This isn't a quick nine holes.

If you're staying at Grantown on Spey Caravan Park just down the road, a round here is a natural fit. You're only 0.8 miles away, so no unnecessary drive. The town itself has decent facilities and a few other distractions if golf isn't everyone's idea of a break. Worth the detour if you've got clubs in the car and a handicap to match.