5 Day Scotland East Coast Golf Itinerary
Five days, five of the finest links on the planet, and only one change of hotel. This east coast route pairs the East Lothian coast east of Edinburgh with the Kingdom of Fife across the Firth of Forth, the two richest clusters of classic links in the world. Two days at North Berwick and Gullane, then three in St Andrews country for Kingsbarns, the Old Course and Crail. Here is the trip, with indicative 2026 green fees and drive times.
Photograph: North Berwick Golf Club, via Google
Who this trip suits
This is the east coast links pilgrimage in its most efficient form, built for the golfer who wants the famous names over a long weekend rather than a full week. East Lothian and Fife sit either side of the Firth of Forth, each a tight cluster of world class links, and the drive between them is about ninety minutes over the bridges, so you set up in one base, play two rounds, then move once and play three more. It suits a serious golf group or a couple for whom the golf is the holiday, and it flexes easily: trade a flagship for a hidden gem when the budget or the ballot demands it.
The two decisions that shape the trip are the Old Course and the season. Enter the St Andrews ballot or apply well ahead, keep a backup in your pocket, and aim for May to September for the firmest turf. Get those right and the rest of the five days falls into place around two comfortable hotel bases, with the evenings free for the clubhouses, the seafood and the whisky.
The 5 day plan
North Berwick, West Links
Open in East Lothian with the most charming links in the country, a Victorian original of stone walls, blind shots and the famous Redan thirteenth that has been copied around the world. It is golf as invention, played hard by the beach in the centre of a seaside town, and the perfect, characterful start to the trip. Indicative 2026 green fees are around 320 pounds in peak season; book ahead.
Gullane Golf Club, No.1 Course
A short drive along the coast brings you to Gullane Hill, where the No.1 course climbs to one of the great views in golf, the Forth, the Edinburgh skyline and a dozen courses laid out below. A recent host of the Scottish Open, it is firm, fast and exposed, a proper test in the wind with a glorious run home. Indicative 2026 green fees are around 325 pounds; the No.2 and No.3 courses offer fine value alongside if time allows.
Kingsbarns Golf Links
Cross the Forth to Fife and open the second half of the trip with the great modern links, a Kyle Phillips design from 2000 that runs for nearly two miles along the North Sea with the water in view almost throughout. A walking course where a caddie earns the fee, it is the most expensive round of the trip at an indicative 486 pounds in peak 2026, and worth every yard. Book the tee time the moment the season opens on 1 June.
Old Course at St Andrews
The heart of the trip and the home of the game, played over the Swilcan Bridge, the Road Hole seventeenth and the closing walk up the eighteenth into the grey town. The Old Course is allocated by advance application and a daily ballot rather than simply paid for, so treat a confirmed time as the real prize and keep the New or Jubilee as a backup. Indicative 2026 green fee around 355 pounds.
Crail Golfing Society, Balcomie Links
Close where the game's roots run deepest, at one of the oldest golf clubs in the world, on an Old Tom Morris links wrapped around a rocky point at the eastern tip of Fife. After four marquee rounds, Balcomie is pure joy, short, scenic and played with the sea on three sides, and at an indicative 140 pounds it is a reminder that the best of Scottish golf need not cost the earth. The ideal, relaxed finish before the drive home.
Green fees, drive times and logistics
| Round | Indicative 2026 fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| North Berwick West | Around 320 pounds | East Lothian base; book ahead |
| Gullane No.1 | Around 325 pounds | 10 minutes from North Berwick |
| Kingsbarns | Around 486 pounds | About 90 minutes from East Lothian; walking course |
| Old Course, St Andrews | Around 355 pounds | By ballot or advance application |
| Crail Balcomie | Around 140 pounds | 20 minutes from St Andrews |
Green fees and drive times verified indicatively in June 2026 from course and ranking listings; they vary by season and change without notice, so always confirm current rates and availability directly before booking. Find a links hotel base.
When to go and where to stay
Play the trip between May and September for firm turf, long daylight and the best chance of dry links weather, accepting peak fees and busy tee sheets, or take the April and late September shoulder for lower prices and fewer crowds. Base the first two nights in or around North Berwick or Gullane for the East Lothian rounds, then move to St Andrews for the second half, where the town puts you minutes from the first tee and within easy reach of Kingsbarns and Crail. A hire car or a driver makes the short hops simple, and Edinburgh airport is barely an hour from either base, so the trip works even over a long weekend.
Plan your east coast links trip
We hold the marquee tee times, navigate the Old Course ballot, match the two hotel bases to the golf, and arrange transfers so the five days run smoothly. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling, and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
East coast Scotland itinerary questions
What is the best 5 day golf itinerary on Scotland's east coast?
Split five days between East Lothian and Fife, the two richest seams of links golf on the east coast. Open with two rounds east of Edinburgh at North Berwick and Gullane No.1, then cross the Forth to Fife for Kingsbarns, the Old Course at St Andrews and a closing round at Crail. The two bases are about ninety minutes apart, so you change hotels only once. Always confirm current tee times and fees directly before booking.
How much does a 5 day east coast Scotland golf trip cost in green fees?
Five rounds on this route add up to roughly 1,600 to 1,700 pounds per golfer in green fees alone in peak 2026 season, led by Kingsbarns at around 486 pounds and the Old Course at around 355, with Crail a relative bargain near 140. You can lower that by swapping a flagship for a nearby value links or by travelling in the shoulder season. Indicative figures, always confirm current fees directly before booking.
Do you need to book the Old Course in advance?
Yes. The Old Course at St Andrews is allocated by advance application and by a daily ballot rather than simply paid for, so a confirmed tee time, not the fee, is the prize. Enter the ballot two days ahead or apply well in advance, and keep a backup such as the New or Jubilee. A trip planner can hold the rest of the trip firm around the Old Course uncertainty.
When is the best time for an east coast Scotland links trip?
May to September brings the firmest turf, the best weather and the longest daylight, which is also peak season for fees and tee sheets. The April and late September shoulder is cheaper and quieter, at the cost of shorter days and more variable weather. Book the marquee tee times as far ahead as you can. Always confirm current seasonal rates and availability directly before booking.
Related
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Indicative green fees and drive times verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.