Inchmarlo Golf Centre

Just outside Banchory, Inchmarlo Golf Centre is the sort of place that makes sense if you've got clubs in the boot and a few hours to kill. It's a working golf facility with a proper driving range and practice areas - the kind of spot where serious golfers come to sharpen their swing before tackling the championship courses scattered across Aberdeenshire.

If you're staying at one of the nearby caravan parks - Banchory Lodge is practically on your doorstep, and Silverbank's only a couple of miles further - it's worth knowing about for a morning round or an afternoon's practice. Non-golfers will find it dull as ditchwater, mind you. There's no clubhouse to speak of with food or drink, no walking trails, no views to write home about. It's functional and that's about it.

The real draw here is the range itself. You can work through your irons, test the driver, maybe book a lesson if you fancy some coaching. Families won't get much out of it unless the kids are already into golf. Solo travellers who play will appreciate having somewhere decent to practice without committing to a full 18 holes.

Banchory itself sits on the River Dee and makes a decent base for exploring Royal Deeside. If you're after golf and countryside combined, this centre ticks the box - but only if you actually play. Otherwise, give it a miss and head into town for the actual attractions.