Tain Golf Club

The golf course sits just outside Dornoch, a proper links layout that's been going since 1890. Eighteen holes of Highland golf, with that particular Scottish wind that keeps you honest. The terrain rolls gently enough, nothing like the brutal dune work you'd find further south, but the greens demand respect and the rough will punish a wayward shot.

It's a members' club primarily, though visiting golfers can play if they arrange it in advance - call ahead or check the website for guest fees and availability. You'll want at least four hours to work your way round, longer if you're not a confident player. The best time to visit is late spring through early autumn when the weather's most forgiving and daylight stretches late.

This is ideal for keen golfers staying in the area rather than casual players. If you're basing yourselves at Dornoch Firth Caravan Park, Dornoch Caravan & Camping Park, or even the larger Parkdean Resorts facility at Grannie's Heilan' Hame, you've got a proper course on your doorstep without the tourist crowds of somewhere like Muirfield. The surrounding Highlands offer excellent walking and fishing too, so this works well as part of a longer break rather than a standalone visit. Solo golfers and fourballs will both get something from it - it's not overly long but it's a proper test of shot-making.