The Highlands, Scotland

UK & Ireland

12 Mar

Written By Adam Young

Malt whisky trails and golf in the Scottish Highlands. Head to the far majestic northern lands of Scotland for the world’s finest single malts and golf created by the greats.

Whether it’s the big-bodied Macallan or the sweeter, lighter Glenlivet, Speyside in the Scottish Highlands has long been a heartland for single malt whisky, with a higher concentration of producers than any other region of Scotland.

The 485-acre Macallan Estate on the banks of the River Spey, licensed to distil since 1824, is one of the many iconic distilleries set within this Highland utopia, where forests are abundant in wildlife – from wildcats to red deer to red squirrels with golden eagles soaring above – and the waters are home to some of the world’s best salmon (wild Atlantic). Throw in visiting whales and dolphins and, of course, the shaggy-haired highland cow grazing the verdant rolling hills, and you have a picture-perfect vision of wild Scotland.

And given Scotland’s status as the home of golf, this mountainous land with its lochs, rivers and wild coastline, has naturally been put to good use on the golfing front, with courses that blend into nature, created by some of the sport’s legendary designers. Old Tom Morris has made his mark here, Donald Ross was born here, and modern names have been keen to get involved too, ensuring the Highlands doesn’t just have the perfect ingredients for golf, it has been touched by those that know the right recipes too.

Royal Dornoch was the work of Old Tom, but was also the home course of Ross, making it the ultimate golfing pilgrimage [you can even stay in the house he was born in – 3 St Gilbert Street, Dornoch]. You then have Carnegie Links at Skibo Castle and Cabot Highlands, around the 400-year-old Castle Stuart, where a timeless classic has been created by Gil Hanse and will soon be joined by a second course designed by Tom Doak. There’s also hidden gems aplenty, including Brora, a James Braid original at a club with more than 130 years of history.

While you want to avoid the snow and the harshest of winter months, even when the bracing weather takes hold in these northerly parts of Britain, it feels more authentic – who wants to play a links on a calm day, anyway? – especially when the challenge of tackling a Highlands course is always followed by a fine single malt.