Newmachar Golf Club

Newmachar Golf Club sits just outside Bucksburn in Aberdeenshire, and it's the sort of place that rewards a decent swing and punishes a duff shot with equal measure. Two 18-hole courses wind through rolling farmland - the Swailend and the Ythanside - each with their own character and challenge level. The Swailend is the tougher proposition, all doglegs and undulating greens that demand respect. The Ythanside plays a bit friendlier but won't let you coast either.

This is proper golf territory, not a pitch-and-putt or pay-as-you-play municipal course. You'll need a handicap to book in as a visitor, though if you're staying at Hillhead Caravan Park a few miles south, the club can sometimes accommodate casual players - worth ringing ahead on that front. Allow a full day if you're doing both courses; half a day if you're just tackling one.

Walkers and non-golfers won't find much to occupy them here, so save this for the golf enthusiast in your group. The landscape is classically Scottish - moorish and open - rather than drama-filled, but there's a quiet satisfaction to it. Spring and autumn are your best bets; Scottish weather being what it is, waterproofs aren't optional. Green fees aren't cheap, but the course maintenance justifies it. Combine it with a stay at nearby Hillhead if you're making a golfing trip to the northeast.