Set on the southern shore of the Moray Firth in the coastal town of Lossiemouth, Moray Golf Club offers a championship links test that regularly surprises golfers who haven't made the trip before. Founded in 1889 with the great Old Tom Morris laying out the original course, the Old Course is a classic out-and-back links of genuine substance — longer than most of its Highland neighbours at over 6,700 yards, and featuring seven par fours of over 400 yards that demand accuracy and course management from first tee to last.

The layout is everything you want from a traditional Scottish links: deep revetted bunkers, gorse-lined fairways that run fast in dry conditions, and greens that reward precise approach play. The elevated 1900s clubhouse, framing both the opening and closing holes, gives the course a satisfying architectural anchor. One of its more unexpected pleasures is the proximity of RAF Lossiemouth — the low-flying jets that occasionally pass overhead add an unlikely but very memorable soundtrack to the round.

Moray also offers a second layout, the Sir Henry Cotton-designed New Course, making a full 36-hole day entirely feasible. Located roughly 40 minutes from Inverness and 70 minutes from Aberdeen, it is a thoroughly accessible and rewarding destination.