Scotland2 minute read
Whisky, Golf and the Scottish Highlands
Royal Dornoch in the morning, Speyside in the afternoon, and a dram by the fire. How to bring the Highlands into a golf journey.
By The Scottish Golf Collection
Casks at rest on the Isle of Jura
Golf and whisky have kept company in Scotland for a very long time, and nowhere do they sit together more naturally than in the Highlands. A few days in the north can bring together some of the country's finest links, its most celebrated whisky region and its most dramatic scenery.
The golf
The Highland coast offers a remarkable run of courses. Royal Dornoch is the centrepiece, but Cabot Highlands, Nairn, Brora, Golspie and Tain each have their own character. In summer, the evenings are so long that a relaxed second round after dinner is a real possibility.
The whisky
Speyside, an hour or two south-east of Dornoch, has the greatest concentration of malt whisky distilleries in Scotland. Many offer tours and tastings, and some provide more personal experiences such as warehouse tastings or time with a member of the production team. Availability and formats vary, so we arrange these individually and confirm them in advance.
Beyond Speyside, the Highland distilleries along the coast make convenient stops between rounds.
A few things worth knowing
- Plan the tasting days. A distillery visit fits beautifully on a rest day or after a morning round, and with a chauffeur nobody needs to stay sober for the drive.
- Book ahead. Smaller distilleries limit numbers, and premium experiences can fill quickly in summer.
- Think about non-golfers. Partners often enjoy a fuller whisky programme while the golfers play.
The Highlands themselves
Allow time for the landscape. A route north through Perthshire and the Cairngorms, or a detour west to Glen Coe, turns a transfer into one of the highlights of the trip. Castles such as Dunrobin, and quiet estates where you can try falconry, fishing or clay shooting, add depth to the days between rounds.
Bringing it together
Our Scottish Links Expedition shows one way to combine St Andrews with the Highlands and Speyside. For something more private, such as an exclusive-use estate or a specialist-led tasting, see The Grand Scottish Golf Journey or tell us what you have in mind.