Portlethen Golf Club

Just south of Aberdeen near Garthdee, Portlethen Golf Club sits on rolling moorland that feels properly remote despite being only minutes from the city. It's an 18-hole course that demands respect - the layout isn't trying to trick you, but the terrain will catch you out if you're not sharp with club selection.

The course works best for golfers with a bit of experience. Beginners won't have an awful time, but they'll spend half the round looking for balls in the rough. The views across Aberdeenshire are decent, though you're focused enough on your game that you don't get lost staring at the horizon. You can usually get round in under four and a half hours on a quiet day.

It's a members' club, so you'll need to arrange a guest round or have a member sponsor you - not uncommon in Scotland, though worth checking their website first. Green fees aren't extortionate by Scottish standards, and there's a clubhouse that does proper food. If you're staying at Deeside Holiday Park just up the road, it's an easy drive over and makes for a solid half-day activity.

Winter rounds here can be bleak and brilliant in equal measure. Spring through autumn is when the course really sings. Don't expect pristine fairways like a resort course - this is working moorland golf, which is precisely why it's worth playing.