Nairn Dunbar Golf Course

The links course at Nairn Dunbar sits right on the Moray Firth coastline, and if you've got a decent golf swing and a morning free, it's absolutely worth the trip. This isn't a fancy resort course - it's a proper Scottish links with all the character that implies. The fairways run alongside the beach, the wind comes off the water with real teeth, and you'll understand why links golf can humble even half-decent players.

Golfers will spend anything from three to four hours here depending on their pace. The course demands respect rather than favours it, with rough that'll swallow your ball whole and greens that slope in ways you won't immediately spot. Even non-members can book a round if you ring ahead, though you'll pay guest rates. The clubhouse has decent facilities and views across the Firth that alone justify the visit.

If you're basing yourself at Barrow Campsite just down the road in Nairn (less than four miles away), this makes for a brilliant morning or afternoon excursion. The town itself is manageable - you'll get fish and chips and a pint locally without fuss. For families without golf ambitions, the beach walk here is lovely enough, though the course itself won't fascinate non-players beyond the novelty of seeing it.

The wind can be brutal in winter and spring, but that's part of the appeal if you're serious about your golf. Summer rounds are more forgiving on the nerves.