Stonehaven Golf Club

The cliff-edge setting here is what makes Stonehaven Golf Club worth the trip, even if you're not a serious golfer. Perched above the Aberdeenshire coast near Stonehaven town centre, the course gives you views across the North Sea that distract you as much as they inspire. It's an 18-hole parkland layout - challenging in the wind, which it often is up here, and genuinely beautiful when the light's right.

You'll get the most from it if you're a competent player with a decent handicap. The greens are fast and the rough unforgiving, so casual hackers might find it frustrating rather than fun. That said, the walk alone is worth doing - the back nine especially wind through coastal terrain that feels properly wild.

It's a members' club primarily, though day visitors can play subject to availability and green fees apply. Ring ahead rather than just turning up. Allow four to four and a half hours for a full round, longer if you're not quick. Spring and autumn are the best seasons - summer can be busy with members, and winter on an exposed headland isn't for everyone.

Stay at Stonehaven Queen Elizabeth Park just under a mile away and you're perfectly positioned. It's a top-rated caravan site with full facilities. Upper Crawton Park and Cloak Caravan Park nearby give you other decent options. You could combine a round here with exploring the town's fishing heritage and the coastal walks that surround it - proper Aberdeenshire golf trip.