Inchmarlo Golf Resort

The course rolls across proper Highland terrain just outside Banchory, and it's the sort of place that makes you forget you're only a couple of miles from town. Inchmarlo has two championship-length courses - the Inchmarlo proper and the newer Learmonth - which means you get variety without having to drive elsewhere. Both wind through woodland and open moorland, and the conditioning is genuinely good for the price point.

Golfers will get the most out of it, obviously, but this isn't a members-only stuffy affair. Visitors are welcome, green fees are reasonable for the standard, and you can book online or ring ahead. Allow a full day if you want to play both courses; a single round takes the usual four hours or so. The facilities include a clubhouse with food, which saves you having to head back into Banchory for lunch.

What makes it work as a holiday base is proximity to the caravan parks. Banchory Lodge and Silverbank are both under two and a half miles away - that's a quick drive or even a decent walk if you're keen. Feughside's another option at three miles. You're far enough from Aberdeenshire's busier bits to feel genuinely rural, but close enough that you can nip into town for a proper dinner or shop if the mood takes. It's that sweet spot where golfers get their rounds in without the hassle of driving across the Highlands.