Golspie Golf Club

Founded in 1889 and part of the James Braid Trail, Golspie Golf Club sits at the foot of Ben Bhraggie with big Highland views over the Dornoch Firth. Highland golf is rare and memorable within this setting and Golspie delivers. You get a lovely mix of heathland flavour and links-like holes in the same round, and it all feels completely natural.

Location-wise, it's ideal for a tour. Golspie is only 10 miles from Royal Dornoch and within easy reach of Brora, so it fits neatly into one of Scotland's most concentrated pockets of quality golf. It's one of the best courses in the Scottish Highlands and sits just outside the Top 50 in Scotland, which gives you a strong clue about the standard without the tee-time pressure you'll often find at some of the headline names nearby.

On the course you'll see gorse and heather on the higher, more sheltered holes, then a more open feel closer to the Firth where the wind can have plenty to say. The greens are typically firm and true when the weather plays ball, so good ball-striking is rewarded and anything loose is quickly found out. You'll rarely hit the same tee shot twice, either, so it's a fun one for golfers who like to shape it and think their way round.

If you're building a Dornoch-area itinerary, this is an easy one to include on your next Highland golf break. The value is excellent, the welcome is genuine, and you'll walk off feeling like you've played somewhere properly Scottish without the crowds.

Who is this for? Golfers planning a Highland tour who want quality and variety alongside the bucket-list names.

Who is it best for? Mid to low handicappers who appreciate strategic, natural golf, plus groups wanting a quieter round with a different feel to Dornoch and Brora.