Golf in Inverness and the Highlands
The far north of Scotland holds a density of natural links found almost nowhere else, strung up a wild coast from the Black Isle to Sutherland. Royal Dornoch, one of the world's greatest, the modern majesty of Castle Stuart and Tom Doak's new Old Petty, and a run of pure, affordable links at Nairn, Brora, Fortrose and Tain. The courses that matter, the season, costs and how to plan it.
Photograph: Castle Stuart, Cabot Highlands, via Google
Why golf in the Highlands
The Highlands offer the purest links golf in Scotland, away from the crowds of the central belt. Inverness, the capital of the north, sits at the centre of a remarkable cluster of natural links that runs up the coast through Nairn and the Black Isle to Dornoch, Tain, Brora and Golspie. At its head is Royal Dornoch, an Old Tom Morris masterpiece regularly ranked among the ten best courses in the world, and on the doorstep of the city is Castle Stuart at Cabot Highlands, a modern links so good it has staged four Scottish Opens.
What sets the region apart is the combination of world class names and genuine hidden gems, almost all of them welcoming visitors and many at a fraction of the fees further south. The arrival of Tom Doak's Old Petty for 2025 gives Cabot Highlands a second eighteen and the whole area a stronger reason to stay rather than day trip. You base in Inverness or Dornoch, hire a car, and drive the short coastal hops, with single track roads, dolphins off the Black Isle and long northern daylight thrown in.
The areas
Inverness and the Moray Firth
The natural base, with Castle Stuart and Old Petty at Cabot Highlands on the firth beside the airport, and Nairn a short drive east. The city anchors a Highland golf week with its hotels, restaurants and transport links.
The Black Isle
The peninsula north of Inverness, home to the spectacular Fortrose and Rosemarkie links reaching out along Chanonry Point, one of the best places in Britain to see dolphins from the fairway.
Dornoch and Sutherland
An hour north, the heart of the great northern links: Royal Dornoch itself, plus Tain, Brora and Golspie within a short drive. A trip in its own right, and the high point of any Highland tour.
The wider Highlands
Beyond the coast lie heathland and parkland courses such as Boat of Garten in the Cairngorms, a scenic change of pace when the sea wind blows, all within reach of an Inverness base.
The courses that matter
Royal Dornoch, Championship
One of the greatest links on earth, laid out by Old Tom Morris in the far north and routinely ranked inside the world top ten. A par 70 of natural, raised greens and tumbling fairways above the Dornoch Firth, an hour north of Inverness and the pilgrimage of any Highland golf trip.
Castle Stuart, Cabot Highlands
A modern links masterpiece on the Moray Firth minutes from Inverness, by Mark Parsinen and Gil Hanse, with art deco styling and huge sea views. A four time Scottish Open host, now the centrepiece of Cabot Highlands and joined for 2025 by a second course, Old Petty.
Old Petty, Cabot Highlands
Tom Doak's new links beside Castle Stuart, opened in 2025 to give Cabot Highlands a second eighteen on the Moray Firth. A natural, strategic companion to its famous neighbour and a major reason the area now warrants a multi day stay.
Nairn
The classic Moray Firth links a short drive east of Inverness, shaped over the years by Old Tom Morris and James Braid. A par 71 that hosted the 1999 Walker Cup and the 2012 Curtis Cup, with the sea in play down the early holes. One of Scotland's finest championship links.
Brora
A beloved James Braid links north of Dornoch where sheep and cattle still graze the fairways behind little electric fences around the greens. Pure, old fashioned, affordable links golf in a glorious setting, and a cult favourite for the traditionalist. The home of the James Braid Golfing Society.
Fortrose and Rosemarkie
A spectacular links on a narrow spit of the Black Isle, the Chanonry Point, reaching out into the Moray Firth with dolphins often visible offshore. A James Braid layout, short but charming and exposed to the wind, and one of the great value rounds north of Inverness.
Tain
An Old Tom Morris links in the small town of Tain, with the Dornoch Firth and the River Tain in play and firm, true turf throughout. A genuine, underrated links and a regular pairing with Dornoch on a northern tour, at a fraction of the fee.
Golspie
A quietly brilliant James Braid links north of Dornoch that mixes seaside, heathland and parkland holes in a single round beneath Ben Bhraggie. Friendly, affordable and uncrowded, the kind of hidden Highland gem that completes a links pilgrimage.
Designers, opening years and access verified June 2026 from the courses and leading databases; access rules and tee sheets change, especially in peak summer. Always confirm visitor access and fees directly before booking.
When to go
| Season | Conditions | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| May to June | Long days, firm turf, cool and often dry | Arguably the prime window; superb links conditions and light until late, before the worst of the midges |
| July to August | Warmest, busiest, near endless daylight | Peak season; book Dornoch and Castle Stuart well ahead, and expect midges on still evenings |
| September to October | Crisp, autumnal, firm and quieter | A lovely time for links golf with easier tee times, weather more changeable |
| November to April | Cold, wet and short days | Limited golf, often on temporary greens; not a links trip season |
The Highland season is short and centred on the long days of late spring and summer. The midges, worst on still, damp evenings from June to August, are the one local hazard worth planning around.
Indicative costs
| Item | Indicative 2026 | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Dornoch Championship | Premium Highland visitor green fee in the summer high season | The marquee round; book well ahead and consider two plays |
| Castle Stuart, Cabot Highlands | Premium resort links fee, season dependent | Modern championship links minutes from Inverness |
| Brora, Fortrose, Tain, Golspie | Excellent value visitor fees, well below the marquee names | Some of the best value links golf in Britain |
| Stay and play | Best booked as a package with rooms and tee times together | Base in Inverness or Dornoch and drive the coastal hops |
Indicative third party figures for the 2026 season, shown to set expectations only. We are a guide, not an operator, and never quote our own pricing. Green fees move with season and demand. Always confirm directly before booking.
Getting there and around
Inverness Airport, about 15 minutes east of the city and right beside Castle Stuart, has direct flights from London, Amsterdam and other UK and European hubs, and Inverness is reachable by road and a scenic rail line from the central belt. A hire car is essential: the courses run up the coast from the Black Isle through Nairn to Dornoch and Brora, on roads that turn single track in places, so allow time and enjoy the drive. The practical move is to base in Inverness, or split nights between Inverness and Dornoch, and play the short coastal hops between links.
Where to stay
Inverness offers the widest choice of hotels and restaurants and the easiest access to Castle Stuart, Old Petty and Nairn. For the northern links, the Royal Dornoch Hotel and the small inns of Dornoch put you on the doorstep of the Championship course and within a short drive of Tain, Brora and Golspie. Many golfers split the trip, a few nights in Inverness and a couple in Dornoch, to play the great links twice. Book rooms and tee times together for the May to September window, when both move quickly.
Plan your Highlands golf trip
Tell us whether you want the full northern links pilgrimage to Royal Dornoch, a Cabot Highlands stay around Castle Stuart and Old Petty, or a value tour of the hidden gems, and roughly when. One concierge secures the tee times, sorts the base and the car, and costs the whole trip to the head, with no obligation.
Highlands golf questions
What are the best golf courses near Inverness?
Royal Dornoch, about an hour north, is the jewel, an Old Tom Morris links ranked among the best in the world. Castle Stuart at Cabot Highlands sits right on the Moray Firth minutes from Inverness, joined for 2025 by Tom Doak's Old Petty. Nairn, a 1999 Walker Cup host, Brora and Fortrose and Rosemarkie on the Black Isle, and Tain complete a remarkable cluster of natural links within easy reach of the city.
How far is Royal Dornoch from Inverness?
Royal Dornoch is roughly an hour's drive north of Inverness, around 45 miles up the A9 into Sutherland. It is comfortably playable on a day trip from an Inverness base, though many golfers stay a night or two in Dornoch itself to play the Championship links twice and add the shorter Struie course. Always confirm tee times directly, as the Championship course books up well ahead in summer.
When is the best time to play golf in the Highlands?
May to September is the season, with the longest days, the firmest links turf and the warmest, if still cool, weather. June and July bring near endless daylight this far north, ideal for late tee times, though the famous Highland midges are at their worst on still summer evenings. Spring and early autumn offer fine links conditions and quieter courses. Winter golf is limited and often on temporary greens. Always check the forecast for your dates.
How much does golf cost around Inverness?
It spans a wide range. Royal Dornoch's Championship links and Castle Stuart sit at the premium end among Scotland's better known visitor fees, while the superb smaller links at Brora, Fortrose and Rosemarkie, Tain and Golspie are some of the best value golf in Britain. Figures are indicative and move with season, so always confirm directly before booking.
How do you get to the Highlands for golf?
Inverness Airport, about 15 minutes from the city and right by Castle Stuart, has direct flights from London, Amsterdam and other UK and European hubs, and Inverness is the natural base for a northern links trip. A hire car is essential, as the courses run up the coast from the Black Isle through Nairn to Dornoch and Brora. Most trips base in Inverness or Dornoch and drive the short coastal hops between links.
Related
The Tee Sheet
Highland links news, the short northern season and the booking windows that matter. Every other week.
Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Course facts, access and seasons verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.