Inverurie Golf Club

The golf course sits just outside Inverurie, a proper working town in Aberdeenshire rather than a tourist trap, which sets the tone immediately. Inverurie Golf Club is an 18-hole course that's been around since 1884 - not ancient by Scottish standards, but old enough to have character. The layout flows across fairly undulating terrain with enough trees to keep things interesting without turning it into an obstacle course.

This is fundamentally a members' club, though visitors can play if they book ahead and meet the requirements. Don't expect the fuss of a resort course. What you get instead is a genuine local experience - the kind of place where regulars know each other and the greens staff actually care about maintenance. The course sits at a reasonable elevation with views across the surrounding farmland rather than mountains; it's lovely in its own way but not dramatic.

Golfers will find it most rewarding. The routing is sensible, the turf generally good, and it's the sort of course you could play in an afternoon without feeling rushed. Families might enjoy a round if the kids can handle it, but this isn't a pitch-and-putt or par-3 setup. Allow three and a half hours for eighteen holes.

If you're staying at Hillhead Caravan Park just down the road, it's worth ringing ahead to see if you can squeeze in a game. You're only a few miles from Inverurie's high street too, which has decent pubs for afterwards. Fair warning though - Scottish weather can turn quickly, and this course won't hide you from the wind.