The Highlands of Scotland is Having a Moment

Connor Evers, PGA

May 20, 2025

6 Minute Read

When golfers think of Scotland, the usual suspects come to mind: St. Andrews and The Old Course, East Lothian and Muirfield, the Ayrshire coast and Royal Troon. But further north, a quieter transformation is underway. One that’s shifting the map of Scottish golf travel in a meaningful way.

The Highlands is having a moment.

And while this region has always been a favorite for H&B and our well-traveled Members, several recent developments are taking it to an entirely new level.

Cabot Highlands Finds Its Second Gear

Most travelers know it as Castle Stuart, the modern links perched above the Moray Firth just outside Inverness. In 2022, the property was acquired by Cabot, but the bigger news lies in what’s coming next.

Old Petty, the second course at Cabot Highlands, is set to open later this year for preview play. Designed by Tom Doak, the course will hit full speed for visitors in 2026. The layout promises the kind of variety and visual drama that made Castle Stuart famous, alongside the scale and intrigue synonymous with Doak designs.

With two must-play courses, Cabot Highlands is both a multi-day and a must-play destination in the north.

We recently had Jeremy Matte from Cabot Highlands on our Golf and the Good Life podcast to talk all things Old Petty and Castle Stuart.

Royal Dornoch Looks Ahead

It’s easy to think that Royal Dornoch wouldn’t need to change a thing. The Championship course has long been regarded as one of the world’s great links, and for many golfers, it’s the best round of their entire trip. But the club is looking forward with purpose.

A brand-new clubhouse is in the works and targeted for completion ahead of the 2026 season. Located beside the first tee, it’s expected to bring a new level of comfort and hospitality to an already special place.

But even bigger changes are now in motion.

The club has brought in King Collins Dormer, the team behind Sweetens Cove and Landman, to design a second 18-hole links on land near the current Struie Course. Along with that comes a full reworking of the Struie layout, plus a short course, modern practice space, and upgraded range facilities.

It’s a bold vision. One that honors the spirit of Dornoch while enhancing what the experience can be for members and visitors alike.

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A preview of the exciting road ahead at Royal Dornoch.

A Michelin Key for Links House

If you needed more proof that the Highlands is stepping up, consider this. In early 2024, Links House at Royal Dornoch was awarded a Michelin Key. It’s one of the highest distinctions for hotels in the UK and a clear sign of what travelers can now expect up here.

Links House has always stood out. The service is warm but precise. The rooms are both elegant and comfortable. And the setting, tucked just steps from the first tee, couldn’t be better.

Then there’s the food. Mara, the on-site restaurant, served me the best meal I’ve ever had on a golf trip. Local ingredients, thoughtful preparation, and a setting that invites you to slow down. It was the kind of dinner that stays with you long after the round is over.

Mara: The best meal I've ever had on a golf trip.

More on the Horizon

Just a few miles up the coast, another project is quietly waiting in the wings. Coul Links, a proposed new course near the village of Embo, is once again under review. A final decision could come at any time.

The site has long been considered one of the finest remaining pieces of undeveloped linksland in Scotland. If approved, Coul Links would add another world-class round to the Highlands rotation, offering even more reason to stay put rather than pair the region with another part of the country.

The Coul Links site as captured by my colleague D.J. Jones during a recent helicopter flight through The Highlands.

What Does It All Mean?

For years, the Highlands tended to play a supporting role in golf trips to Scotland. It was the region you added to the front or back of an itinerary that centered around one of the marquee areas. Today, The Highlands stands on its own.

With Royal Dornoch, Cabot Highlands, Nairn, and Brora, there’s enough great golf to anchor a full week. As noted in the video below, if you add in strong supporting rounds at Tain, Golspie, and Fortrose & Rosemarkie, there's no need to look anywhere else. You can stay in The Highlands, play a different course each day, and never feel like you are repeating yourself. And that’s before the possible addition of Coul Links and the new course at Royal Dornoch.

But that only tells half the story.

I was in The Highlands recently with my dad, and we decided to take a day off the course. We drove west to Glenfinnan, then continued down to the Isle of Skye. No tee times. No schedule. Just a long, scenic day on the road. And honestly, it ended up being one of the best travel days I've ever had. The landscapes out there are hard to describe. Towering hills, empty roads, water and sky in every direction. It reminded me that this part of Scotland deserves time away from the course to fully appreciate it.

Not long ago, The Highlands was one of the few regions in Scotland where planning could start a little later. That’s starting to change. Some of our hotel partners are already fully booked for key weeks in 2026. What was once a flexible option is now following the same early-booking pattern as St. Andrews and Muirfield. The best experiences are going quickly.

The Highlands is having a moment. Let’s start planning yours.