ROYAL DORNOCH GOLF COURSE (20 miles)
Acclaimed as one of the finest links courses, Royal Dornoch is proud to be one of the original locations of golf in Scotland. Centuries before the golf club was founded, records show the game was being played in 1616 on the town land on the links along the seashore. Tel: 01862 810219 www.royaldornoch.com

BONAR BRIDGE GOLF COURSE (13 miles)
Dramatic hills form the backdrop to this picturesque nine-hole course that we highly recommend to our guests. The smell of pine trees and the views down to Loch Migdale from various points on the course, make this a lovely contrast to Sutherland's links courses. Tel: 01863 766199

TAIN GOLF CLUB (24 miles)
The Championship length links course enjoys spectacular views over mountains and sea and benefits from a sheltered climate, which allows favourable golfing conditions for most of the year. Tel: 01862 892314 www.tain-golfclub.co.uk

BRORA GOLF CLUB (35 miles)
In 1923, James Braid (five times Open Champion) and prolific course designer (the most famous being Gleneagles) visited the club at Brora and redesigned the course. It remains a challenging test of a true traditional links course. Tel: 01408 621417 www.broragolf-uk.co.uk

HELMSDALE GOLF CLUB (45 miles)
This is a testing heathland golf course, bordered by the Helmsdale Strath and overlooking the town's famous salmon-filled river and the Moray Firth. Tel: 01431821063