Wigtownshire County Golf Course

The course sits just outside Newton Stewart, a proper working golf club that doesn't pretend to be anything grander than it is. You get 18 holes of Scottish lowland golf - rolling fairways, the occasional tricky rough, and views that stretch across countryside most visitors never bother with. It's the kind of place where locals have played for decades and visitors are genuinely welcomed.

This is golf for people who actually play golf. Don't expect manicured resort conditions or a clubhouse like something from Country Life magazine. What you get instead is honest, well-maintained play at a reasonable rate, the sort of course where you can rock up and just get on with it. The layout's nothing revolutionary, but it works - some blind shots keep you honest, the greens hold their line, and you won't feel robbed if the weather turns.

Walkers won't get much from it unless they're serious about the game. Families might bring a keen young golfer, but it's not a novelty destination. Allow four and a half hours for 18 holes, maybe three and a bit if you're quick.

Stay at The Galloway Steading just up the road and you're practically on the doorstep. It's the perfect excuse for a golf break without the fuss. Ring ahead to check green fees and book a tee time - they're busy in summer. The wider Dumfries and Galloway area has Sands of Luce as an alternative base if you're making a longer trip out of it.