Royal Dornoch: Championship
Dornoch
Golf has been recorded at Dornoch since the early 1600s. Plateau greens, with gorse ablaze in late spring.
Golf in Highlands & Royal Dornoch
Remote, beautiful links in the far north, with the mountains, lochs and distilleries of the Highlands close by.
Gorse and fairway at Royal Dornoch, Sutherland
For many experienced golfers, Royal Dornoch is the course they remember most fondly. It sits at the edge of a small cathedral town in Sutherland, with plateau greens, gorse and long views over the Dornoch Firth.
Around it lies some of the finest golf in Scotland: Cabot Highlands above the Moray Firth, the classic seaside links at Nairn, and James Braid's Brora, where grazing livestock share the course. Speyside's distilleries and the great glens are all within reach.
The courses
Cabot Highlands
Ardersier, near Inverness
Formerly Castle Stuart: broad, theatrical links above the Moray Firth, a short drive from Inverness.
The Nairn Golf Club
Nairn
Classic seaside golf where the beach is in play on the opening holes.
Brora Golf Club
Brora
A James Braid links where sheep and cattle graze freely and the greens are protected by electric fences.
Golspie Golf Club
Golspie
Links, heath and parkland in one round, near Dunrobin Castle.
Tain Golf Club
Tain
An Old Tom Morris links on the Dornoch Firth, a short drive from Dornoch.
Fortrose & Rosemarkie
Black Isle
Golf on a narrow spit into the Moray Firth, where dolphins are often seen off the point.
Visitor policies, handicap requirements and tee-time procedures are set by each club and can change. We confirm the current position for every course in your journey, and never assume access.
Practical notes for visiting golfers
- Getting there
- Inverness Airport has connections from London and some European hubs; Dornoch is around an hour north. By road from Edinburgh it is roughly 3 hours 30 minutes, or longer with stops through Perthshire.
- Seasons and conditions
- Late May to early September is best. Midsummer daylight in the far north is remarkable — golf after dinner is entirely possible.
- How long to stay
- Three or four nights, ideally at a country house or estate rather than moving every day.
- Pairs well with
- Speyside whisky country and the Aberdeenshire coast, or a scenic return south through Glen Coe or Perthshire.
Beyond the golf
- Speyside distilleries, with private tastings where available
- Dunrobin Castle and its gardens
- Loch Ness, Glen Affric and Highland touring
- Falconry, fishing or clay shooting on a sporting estate
- See all experiences
Journeys that include Highlands & Royal Dornoch
Signature Collection
7–9 nights
The Scottish Links Expedition
Fife, Angus, the Highlands and Speyside
From St Andrews to Royal Dornoch, with whisky country and the hills of Perthshire on the way. The fullest picture of Scottish golf.
Explore journey
Reserve Collection
7–10 nights
The Grand Scottish Golf Journey
Scotland's most prestigious golf destinations
Coast to coast and up into the Highlands, staying in Scotland's most remarkable houses. Every element is made for your party alone.
Explore journey
Play Highlands & Royal Dornoch, beautifully arranged.
Tell us which courses you have in mind and we will shape a journey around them, with honest advice on what is realistic for your dates.
Begin Planning Your Journey