Golf On The North East 250… And 20+ Other Reasons To Visit

What is the North East 250?
www.NorthEast250.com

The North East 250 is a circular driving (or cycling /walking) route in the North East of Scotland.  The route can be done clockwise from Aberdeen heading west along to Braemar, then head north up to the Moray coast at Spey Bay; from there you head along to Fraserburgh and then back down to Aberdeen again. Needless to say, it can be done anti-clockwise as well. 250 miles in total.

Where does the North East 250 start?

As it is a circular route you can start anywhere. Your starting point will be determined by where you are coming from.  For example, if you’re travelling from Inverness then, Rothes or Spey Bay may be a good point.  Glenshee and/or Aberdeen would be your best point to join the North East 250 if coming from Edinburgh or Glasgow.

Is North East 250 signposted all the way around?

No, it’s not.  Please check out the North East 250 website – www.northeast250.com – for full details.  The website will give you a good idea of your route.  You may want to take a (physical) map as there are parts where you may not get a (mobile phone) signal. Alternatively, download the whole route to your phone.

How long does it take to go round The North East 250?

The route is 250 miles, so you could drive it within several hours but that’s not really the point. It’s full of history, castles and country houses, plenty of beaches to walk and hills to climb.  You can kayak, fish, cycle, golf plus many more outdoor activities. I would suggest 4-6 days depending on what you enjoy doing.

Golfers will perhaps spend more time in Royal Deeside and the north and east coasts.  Whilst whisky lovers will spend more time on the west side of the route touring around the Speyside region. There is something for everyone on the North East 250.

When is the best time to go around the North East 250?

The best time to travel around the North East 250 is from April to the end of September.  The weather is milder and most of the historic buildings are open over this period.  Balmoral Castle is the only exception as it closes when the Royal family are in residence in August.

What are the golf courses like?

You will find some of the best courses in Scotland, in this region.  I have highlighted over 32 golf courses this week and over half of them are incredibly priced at £30 or less per round.  In my opinion, the greens fees for many of these courses would be at least double if the courses were located more centrally in Scotland.  What I am saying is, don’t judge the course by its green fee rate.

Playing 30+ courses in a short 4-6 day break around the North East 250 isn’t feasible.  So pick and choose and build your own trip:

The North East 250 Courses are made up of:

1. 8x 9 holes courses
2. 5x Courses on the Royal Deeside Golf Ticket offer
3. 8x Courses at £30 or under per round
4. 6x Courses at £35 to £90 per round
5. 5x Courses over £100 per round

I have added in all the non-golf places that I stopped at and hopefully they may be of interest to you and the non-golfers in your group.

The North East 250 Journey Begins – Leaving Aberdeen

I stayed at the Cults Hotel in the SW of Aberdeen so I had a quick and easy start the next morning onto the North East 250 route westwards towards Braemar.  However, I visited Hazelhead golf courses the previous evening.

Hazelhead Golf Course
www.hazelheadgolfclub.co.uk

Hazelhead GC has two courses The MacKenzie Championship Course & The Pines Course. Obviously ideal for 36 holes in the one day and at £21 each per round, great value for money.

The MacKenzie Championship Course was designed by Dr Alister MacKenzie who also designed Augusta National in the USA.

So my first stop on Day 1 was at the Paul Lawrie Golf Centre.

Paul Lawrie Golf Centre
www.paullawriegolfcentre.co.uk

Paul Lawrie has been one of Scotland’s finest golfers for many years.  In addition to his MBE & OBE, he has won on the European Tour 8 times, played in over 600 European Tour events and represented Europe in 2 Ryder Cups.

His most notable victory was 20 years ago at the Open Championship at Carnoustie in 1999, where he came from 10 shots behind on the final day to claim the Claret Jug.

It’s no surprise that he has created an excellent golf centre on the outskirts of Aberdeen.  The centre has a large golf shop, 26 bay driving range, a lovely par3, 9 hole course with plenty of water hazards and well-contoured greens. This is a great place to improve both your long & short game and well worth a visit.

Deeside Golf Club
www.deesidegolfclub.com

Deeside Golf Club has an 18 hole course (Haughton) and a 9 hole course (Blairs) – once again perfect for 2 rounds with a bite to eat in between rounds.

The clubhouse has fabulous views down to the 18th green and over the course which sits along the River Dee.  There are opportunities to play in their opens coming up shortly:

Mixed Foursomes Open 2019 (7th July)
Men’s Open 2019 (14th July)
Ladies Open Greensomes 2019 (26th July)
Juniors Open 2019 (5th August)

Peterculter Golf Club
www.petercultergolfclub.co.uk

As you head further west along the North East 250 route the next golf course you come to is Peterculter GC. The road to and from the course is very narrow so take your time.

The course at Peterculter weaves its way along the River Dee and is a relatively easy walking course.

Peterculter is the first course that you will come across that is part of the Royal Deeside Golf Ticket offer.  This offer allows you to play the five courses at Peterculter GC, Aboyne GC, Banchory GC, Ballater GC & Braemar GC  within a two week period for a total of £150 – £30 per course. This  is great value at this time of year for courses of this quality.

Simply download the ticket link below and take it with you to the clubs –

www.petercultergolfclub.co.uk

Drum Castle
www.nts.org.uk

A short drive from Peterculter GC, I came across Drum Castle, which until 40+ years ago was the seat of the Clan Irvine since 1325. It sits in lovely grounds that you can have a good wander about in.

Crathes Castle
www.nts.org.uk

Crathes Castle is further along the River Dee.  The castle sits on over 500 acres of land that was given to the Burnett of Leys family by Robert the Bruce in 1323. If you’re into speedy zip wires and Tarzan swings, why not try out ‘Go Ape’ in the grounds of Crathes Castle.

A short drive westward along the North East 250, on the A93, brings you to Banchory where its golf course sits in the south west of the town itself.

Banchory Golf Club
www.banchorygolfclub.co.uk

Banchory GC sits, nestled in the trees along the banks of the River Dee and it’s where 1999 Open Champion, Paul Lawrie, had his first professional job.

The course runs along the River Dee which makes it is a fairly flat, easy walk with only a few inclines/declines here and there.  The course has six par 3 holes and therefore this keeps the overall yardage of the course to under 6,000 yards.  The par 3s are a feature of this course, as they range from under 100 yards to over 220 yards, plus a handful of elevation changes.

The par 3 16th Doo’cot (pictured) is one of Scotland’s shortest holes at 88 yards.  The hole plays to an elevated green which sits next to a pigeon loft.  It’s worth having a look where the 16th flag is when you tee off at the first, as the 16th green sits to the left of the first hole.

This is a short but enjoyable track.  It sits in the town and if you’ve got your accommodation sorted close by, you won’t have much further to walk.

If 18 holes are too much to fit into your day whilst doing this route, then you have to head along to the lovely 9 hole course at Inchmarlo Golf Centre.

Inchmarlo Golf Course
www.inchmarlogolf.co.uk

Inchmarlo Golf Centre’s Queens Course is a Graeme Webster designed 9 hole course.  Additionally, the centre has a 20 bay driving range plus a short game area.

The course itself has a really good mix of par 3s and par 4s and it was looking in great condition when I visited.  Water comes into play, as do the stone walls around the course, all of which add to the character of the course.

Tarland Golf Course
www.TarlandGolfClub.co.uk

Another 9 hole course just along the road is the Tom Morris designed, Tarland Golf Course.

Playing 18 holes here will cost you £25 (M-F) & £28 (S-S) which is another bargain. The course is a parkland layout and stretches to just under 6,000 yards from the back tees.  There is fairly penal rough if you start spraying the ball, so keep it on the short stuff and give yourself a chance.

Next up on the A93 is another course on the Royal Deeside Golf Ticket offer, Aboyne Golf Club.

Aboyne Golf Club
www.aboynegolfclub.co.uk

This course is a mix of parkland on the front nine and heathland on the back nine.  There are plenty of trees, and water frequently comes into play.

The first 8 holes play around the south of the clubhouse.  The ninth hole takes you north, by the Loch of Aboyne, where the heathland feel to the course starts.

Aboyne GC has a number of Open competitions over the summer – click here to find out more details – www.aboynegolfclub.co.uk

Ballater Golf Course
www.ballatergolfclub.co.uk

Ballater Golf Course was next on my list of North East 250 courses.  A lovely course with a mix of both parkland and heathland layout. It’s a relatively easy walking track but there is enough out there to test you.  There are tiered & elevated greens and undulating fairways, with subtle mounds to keep you alert.  This is a scenic course and ideal for a group outing or holiday golf in the highlands.

Balmoral Castle
www.balmoralcastle.com

 – The Castle & Grounds

If you haven’t visited Balmoral Castle before I would recommend it.  The Royal Family spend August at Balmoral so the castle is closed over this period. Check the website above for opening details.

The grounds are extensive and you could spend the whole day here.  You can use their very useful audio guide as you walk around the estate.

 – The Golf Course

Yes, there is a 9 hole golf course at Balmoral, which is used by the Royals and their guests.

The course used to be open for a handful for large corporate events each year.  However, since the financial downturn in 2007/8 and the oil downturn in Aberdeen, the corporate events seem to have dried up.

As a result, the course has been opened up to the general public and now you & I can play 9/18 holes here.  Well, maybe not me, as they never replied to my email that they asked me to send into them. I am sure you will fare much better.

Anyway, I visited the course, regardless, and walked around it – I didn’t play it, just for the record. At £200 per tee time, I wanted to check out what it was like first.

 – What’s the course like?

It is a scenic course that has a slight intimidating approach to the first green, as a huge statue of Queen Victoria stands over to your left.  On the right hand side an equally large statue of Prince Albert stands watching over to you.  I did genuinely feel in the presence of Royalty & I took a moment to appreciate exactly where I was.

From the 2nd tee (above), you can see Crathie Kirk, before the hole leads you down to the River Dee and along its banks on the 3rd & 4th holes. You turn at the short 5th and work your way back up to the higher ground at the 8th & 9th.

As I say, a lovely scenic course with public access now. There are 4x tee times available on a Mon, Thur & Fri and this will cost £200 per tee time for 18 holes.

If you enjoy ticking off high profile courses then this is one you may want to consider, if you can find 3 friends to stump up £50 each.  I’ll perhaps wait for my invite from Balmoral Estates before reviewing the course fully…. but I won’t hold my breath!

Braemar Golf Course
www.braemargolfclub.co.uk

The last course in Royal Deeside is the highest golf course in Scotland at 1200 ft – Braemar. The course is also the fifth & final one that is part of the Royal Deeside Golf Ticket offer.

Despite being the highest course in Scotland it is a reasonably flat course and is just under 5,000 yards.  The scenery is magnificent and you can normally spot all sorts of wildlife here, particularly deer and birds of prey.

Braemar Castle
www.braemarcastle.co.uk

The village of Braemar is a delightful place to wander around.  Several hotels and pubs are available for lunch, dinner and refreshments. You will want to spend some time here and stretch your legs but as you head out of the village, make sure to leave time to stop at Braemar Castle.

One date to note is the Braemar Gathering (www.braemargathering.org) which is being held on Sat 7th September, so this will be a very busy time in the area.

Corgarff Castle
www.historicenvironment.scot

Corgarff Castle is your next stop on your North East 250 route north. The unusual feature about this isolated castle is that it has a star-shaped perimeter wall which was added when it became a military base in 1746.

Glenlivet Distillery
www.theglenlivet.com

As you continue on the North East 250 north from Corgarff Castle, you soon enter the 58,000 acre Glenlivet estate which is part of Crown Estate Scotland.  There are mountain bike trails to explore and 12 waymarked walks to choose from.

I went on the tour of the distillery but didn’t join in the whisky tasting. If you are driving, they package your whisky samples for you to take away and sample later on.

Packhorse Bridge (Old Bridge of Livet)

Stop for a picnic at the Packhorse Bridge over the River Livet outside the distillery.  If you stop and look at the bridge you may notice something familiar about it.  The bridge forms part of Glenlivet’s new logo (compare the bridge with the logo in the picture above).  This bridge was favoured by smugglers and bootleggers in days gone by, as it helped them move their whisky across the water undetected.

Ballindalloch Castle
www.ballindallochcastle.co.uk

Ballindalloch Castle has beautifully maintained grounds which surround the castle.  Here, you’ll find all sorts of farm and wildlife such as red squirrels, lama, Shetland ponies and Aberdeen Angus cattle.  If you look skyward you’ll see birds of prey and if you’re lucky you may even see the occasional Osprey.

This is definitely a place to stop and grab a tea/coffee and take in their magnificent gardens and grounds. It’s certainly one of the finest castles & gardens on the North East 250.

Aberlour Distillery
www.aberlour.com

Next up is the Aberlour distillery.  I had a quick look around its shop but didn’t do their tour.  By this stage, you will realise you really are in Whisky Country and that there is a constant smell of whisky in the air or is it just the Angels’ share?

Linn Falls

Right next to Aberlour distillery is a short walk to Linn Falls.  Cross the bridge at the entrance to Aberlour and walk along the river for 10-15 mins where you will come across Linn Falls.  It’s not a long walk but a good excuse to get out the car for a while.

Speyside Cooperage
www.speysidecooperage.co.uk

I would suggest that you stop at the Speyside Cooperage, as it’s the only cooperage in the UK with a visitor centre. The Speyside Cooperage produces and repairs around 150,000 casks each year.

These whisky casks are a vital part of the whisky industry and the Speyside Cooperage tour is a great way to find out why.

I had no idea how much work was involved in preparing the casks for their next batch of whisky.  This is a good tour and worth going on.

Glenfiddich Distillery
www.glenfiddich.com

My next whisky tour on the North East 250 was at Glenfiddich which was interesting and very informative.  As before, I got to take away my tasting samples.  I’m slowly beginning to understand the size of the whisky industry in Scotland and its economic value to our country.

Balvenie Castle
www.historicenvironment.scot

Balvenie Castle is not far from the Glenfiddich distillery.  If you have time, stop by for a look at this ruin which dates back to the 13th century.

Glen Grant Distillery
www.glengrant.com

My final whisky tour on the North East 250 was at the Glen Grant distillery in Rothes. I was fortunate to have a ‘one to one’ tour with the guide which was great.

Rothes Golf Club
www.rothesgolfclub.co.uk

After my final distillery trip, I was only 3-4 minutes away from Rothes Golf Club where I met up with John Milne, head greenskeeper at the club.

Rothes golf course is a beautifully maintained nine-hole course. It has 18 separate teeing areas which make both nines feel slightly different. It’s a parkland course with the first two holes having tree lined boundaries on the left, as you work your way up a gentle incline.

The third is the last of the tighter holes, as you head back down the hill.  The course opens up from the fourth hole onwards.

John has worked hard on differentiating the front and back nine teeing areas. None more so that the 3rd and 12th, where the 12th tee is tucked way back into the woods, with an intimidating tee shot ahead of you.  This is a great addition (see below).

The course sits very high up and the views are magnificent.  I think I spotted at least 3-4 distilleries and, yet again, I was sure I could smell whisky in the air. If you’re doing the Whisky Trail be sure to stop off at the very scenic Rothes Golf Club. Nine holes and a whisky tour can both be done in the same afternoon as everything is so close together.

Station Hotel, Rothes
www.stationhotelspeyside.com

I can highly recommend an overnight stay at the Station Hotel in Rothes.  It has recently been renovated to a high standard and it’s in a great spot for access to golf, whisky tours and exploring the area. It’s also a 3-4 minute walk from Glen Grant distillery.

Spey Bay Golf Club
www.speybay.co

As I emerged from Rothes golf club and my Whisky trail, I headed straight up north on the North East 250 to the Moray coastline at Spey Bay.  It’s a course that you must play if you have the time – it’s only £25 & I have no idea why.

This is a very natural course and is a mix of heathland and links in style.  It’s a straight out and back layout, along the Moray coastline.  Be sure to stop by here.

Scottish Dolphin Centre
dolphincentre.whales.org

No more than a drive and 5 iron, from Spey Bay golf course, is the Scottish Dolphin Centre.  It’s free entry and survives on donations and the help of volunteers.  There’s plenty of seabird watching and you can go on one of their walks or tours, with land based dolphin watching, from the shore.

Buckpool Golf Course
buckpoolgolf.com

Elevated above sea level, Buckpool Golf Course has great views across the Moray Firth towards the hills of Caithness. You will encounter gorse-lined fairways, challenging greens and cavernous bunkers that will test your game!

It’s not a links course although it’s right on the coast. However, I have visited the course several times over the years and it’s always had a links feel to it.

Strathlene Golf Course
www.strathlenegolfclub.co.uk

Strathlene is another cliff-top links-style course with fabulous views over the Moray Firth.  This course is one of the ones you can put into the ‘£30 or under’ bracket in terms of its green fees.  It represents great value for money and the views alone are worth the fee.

Bow Fiddle Rock

Next up as I head east on the North East 250 is Bow Fiddle Rock.  It has to be one of the most photographed parts of the Moray coastline and very popular with Instagrammers.

Its formation dates back millions of years but today it’s a humble tourist attraction and seabird nesting spot. To give you a better idea of the scale of Bow Fiddle Rock, check out the size of the people at the bottom centre of the picture on the beach.

Cullen Skink & Cullen Bay Hotel
cullenbayhotel.com

Cullen is a short distance from Bow Fiddle Rock and you have to stop off here.  Under the large aqueduct, there is a car park next to the golf course & beach.  A stroll along here shouldn’t be missed. There are several sea stacks on the beach and the golf course which are very unusual.

Cullen is home to Cullen Skink, a thick soup made with Scottish smoked haddock, onions and potatoes. Head up to the Cullen Bay Hotel for a bowl of their award-winning Cullen Skink.  The view from the hotel is stunning.

Cullen Links
www.cullenlinksgolf.co.uk

Cullen Links is a short but interesting true links course – in fact, it is the shortest of the 246 true links courses worldwide.  It was originally a 9 hole course laid out by Old Tom Morris but has been extended to 18 holes.

The views, from the elevated position on the 7^th tee, over the course and out to the Moray Firth are superb on a clear day.

Portsoy Harbour

Portsoy sits on the Moray coast and has a beautiful 17th-century harbour.  The village is well known for its annual Scottish Traditional Boat Festival held in June.  The event brings many people to the area and helps promote this stunning coastline.

The harbour at Portsoy has recently made the big screen in the remaking of the 1949 film ‘Whisky Galore’.  The film is based on Compton MacKenzie’s novel of the same name. The 1949 version is a classic Ealing studios production and the remake (Whisky Galore 2016) helps keep the story alive with a new generation.

The story is based on actual events from the Second World War.  The ship SS Politician ran aground on the sandbanks of the Isle of Eriskay in the Outer Hebrides.  The story/film explains how the local community ‘helped’ salvage the cargo! I found both the original and the re-make films highly amusing and very entertaining.

Duff House Royal
www.duffhouseroyal.com

Duff House Royal golf course is a beautiful parkland course on the banks of the River Deveron and in the grounds of Duff House.  The course was re-designed by Dr Alister MacKenzie (also designed Augusta National) in 1923.  This is a very picturesque and enjoyable course to play on the North East 250 route.

It’s normally £70 per person per round but substantial discounts for a four-ball at £220.

Duff House
www.nationalgalleries.org

Duff House is a magnificent Georgian country house in Banff.  This Category A listed building displays art collections from the National Galleries of Scotland.  It was designed by William Adam in 1735 for William Duff. Since that date, it has been used as a family house, hotel, sanatorium, barracks and prisoner-of-war camp.

Royal Tarlair
www.royaltarlair.co.uk

Yet another course with fabulous views on this dramatic North East 250 coastline is Royal Tarlair.  It’s a clifftop parkland course and for £25-£30 you can play this course.  The 13th hole is spectacular and many would pay £25-£30 just to play that hole.  Great value for money.

Troup Head RSPB – largest colony of Gannets on mainland Britain
www.rspb.org.uk

About a 20-minute drive from Duff House heading east along the coastline, you will come across Troup Head. Detailed directions can be found on the RSPB website link above.

As you walk out towards Troup Head, you suddenly become aware of the noise of tens of thousands of sea birds getting louder and louder.  It’s an incredible sight and sound (take binoculars if you have them).

Troup Head is home to the largest colony of Gannets on mainland Britain and is in a spectacular spot. There are also thousands of kittiwakes, guillemots and razorbills.  I am led to believe that you can see puffins here but I wasn’t lucky enough to spot them… or I am just blind (these aren’t puffins in the picture above BTW)!

Pennan

The scenery is breath-taking in these parts and you won’t get a break from it for long, as you head along to Pennan.  It’s a tiny isolated village, accessed by a short but steep descent on a road with tight hairpin bends.

Pennan became famous in the 1980s as the main location for the film ‘Local Hero’.  A red telephone box appears as a central part in the film and it is still there today.

The truth of the matter is that the phone box was added as a prop in the film and then removed.  However, there was such demand for it to be put back, that it was reinstated and found its permanent home here.

Rosehearty Golf Club
Rosehearty GC Facebook Page

The last time I was in the area, I decided to miss out Rosehearty and took the main road to Banff ( I was heading in the opposite direction last time).  This was a mistake but I didn’t make the same mistake this time.

Don’t get me wrong this is not a championship links course – no, it’s a short but charming 9 hole course with great views.   There are some tricky holes and testing greens.

You have to walk across the road to the Mason Arms Hotel to pay your green fee when the clubhouse is unmanned. One step up from an ‘honesty box’ but this just adds to the charm of the course.

Fraserburgh Golf Club
fraserburghgolf.club

I am a fan of the Links at Fraserburgh, as it’s not only a great course but represents real value for money. Only £45-£50 for 18 holes on the Corbie Hill course and £10 for 9 holes on The Rosehill course. Once you add a spot of lunch between the two rounds, this sound like a great day on the North East 250 to me.

The Museum of Scottish Lighthouses, Fraserburgh
lighthousemuseum.org.uk

It’s only by doing trips like the North East 250 that you come across museums like this.  It would never have occurred to me to go and find out about the lighthouses of Scotland.  I never knew that the Kinnaird Head Lighthouse behind the museum was the first lighthouse in mainland Scotland, dating back to 1787.

There is also a wonderful smell in the air from the smoking kilns.  Fish-curers can be found working around the clock, smoking salmon, haddock & herring amongst others.

Around the back of the museum, you’ll find Kinnaird Seafood – www.kinnairdseafood.com. You can place an order in their shop ‘The Kiln’ (or app) to be sent to your home, for your return.

Inverallochy Golf Club
inverallochygolfclub.com

Inverallochy is an 18 hole links course with sea views on every hole. It is a short course with six par 3s, three of which are around the 200-yard mark. As with most links courses, it will feel like twice the length, if the wind gets the better of you.

This is one of the courses you can play for £30 or under on the North East 250.

Peterhead Golf Course
www.peterheadgolfclub.co.uk

As you arrive at the car park at Peterhead Golf Club, you may think you’ve taken a wrong turn.  Fear not, access, to the course, is by foot across the bridge, over the River Ugie which gives the course a feeling of seclusion.

The Craigewan Links at Peterhead has got some great holes once you reach the dunes area. When you add in the views, you’ll be well satisfied at the end of 18 holes.

Cruden Bay Golf Club
www.crudenbaygolfclub.co.uk

If you haven’t played Cruden Bay before then, I would suggest putting it on your golfing bucket list, if you’re a fan of links golf.

In the late afternoon, the shadows cast by the undulating fairways, in the setting sun, make this course all the more dramatic.  Additionally, the views looking down onto the course, from the elevated clubhouse at the end of the day, are spectacular. They’ll leave a lasting memory.

This course is in the top 100 courses in the world for a good reason.  It is one of the more expensive courses on the North East 250 which is completely understandable.

New Slains Castle

 – The Castle

My final ‘non-golf’ stop on the North East 250 route was outside Cruden Bay, at New Slains Castle, which sits high up on a cliff top overlooking the North Sea.  There is a small car park just off the A975 and I would suggest parking here and walk to the castle – 10-minute walk.  The road is a single track and has the worst potholes I’ve experienced for a while.

The castle itself is a ruin, is unattractive and is quite unremarkable.  The reason for this is probably because it’s had many makeovers and has been stripped of everything but the brickwork. The roof was removed in the early 20th century and it has been left to ruin ever since.

 – Bram Stoker

So, New Slains Castle has got nothing going for it – or has it? Bram Stoker, the author of the Dracula novel, was a frequent visitor to the area in the late 19th century and used this castle as inspiration for his gothic novel.

 – Kilmarnock Arms Hotel – www.kilmarnockarms.com

I decided to stay at the nearby Kilmarnock Arms Hotel in Cruden Bay, as I had found out that Bram Stoker was once a guest at the hotel.  Sure enough, there was a plaque on the outside of the hotel stating that Bram Stoker did indeed stay at the hotel in 1895.

I was also delighted to get a glimpse of the guest book where he signed into the hotel, on the 2 August 1894 for 27 days.

As I re-visited the castle the following day, there was more of a chill in the air, or so I thought.  Once you know the story, you begin to feel the eeriness of this creepy ruin of a castle and it starts to come alive.  Maybe it’s not so unremarkable after all!

McDonald Golf Club, Ellon
www.ellongolfclub.co.uk

This parkland course maybe a respite from all the coastal and links courses on this part of the North East 250.  However, water is always close at hand on this beautiful inland course, with a burn that weaves its way around most of the course.

At £35 per round, you will get value for money here.

Newburgh on Ythan Golf Club
www.newburghgolfclub.co.uk

An absolute hidden gem on the North East 250 is Newburgh on Ythan. It has been overshadowed by Cruden Bay to the north and Murcar & Royal Aberdeen to the south for too long. Go and play it and then tell everyone about it.

Trump International Golf Course
www.trumpgolfscotland.com

On my first visit to Trump International Golf Links at Aberdeen, I couldn’t help but feel similarities with Cruden Bay, in terms of the views looking down on the course from the clubhouse. Unsurprising really, as there are only 16 miles between them.

I really didn’t want to like this course but who am I to judge one of the world’s top 100 courses.  Making the world’s top 100 so quickly is quite a feat, considering that the course isn’t old enough to shave yet!

The green fee is eye-watering for this part of the country but locals do get discounted rates. I will get back up to Aberdeen at some point and do a full review, as I have to confess, there is something about this course that draws me back. Watch this space!

Murcar Links
murcarlinks.com

Murcar Links is 10 minutes from Aberdeen and sits amongst the sand dunes, heather and whins of this fine golf coast on the North East 250.  It held a European Tour event in 2015, the Paul Lawrie Match Play, where Kiradech Aphibarnrat beat Robert Karlsson in the final.

This is a top quality course and worth every penny of the green fee.

Royal Aberdeen golf course
www.royalaberdeengolf.com

Right next door to Murcar is Royal Aberdeen. The Balgownie Links at Royal Aberdeen has been host to many national and international events throughout the years. The most notable recent European Tour event was the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open in July 2014, where Justin Rose won by 2 shots over the chasing pack.

NORTH EAST 250 SUMMARY – Return to Aberdeen

As I drive back to my starting point on the North East 250 in Aberdeen, I can’t help but heap praise on Guy MacPherson-Grant who founded the North East 250.

The reason for this is that I was of the foolish opinion that I already knew the area well.  After all, my kids were at university in Aberdeen and I had played most of the golf courses around the route – what else did I need to find out?

Well, I’ve ended up going on several whisky tours and found out a huge amount one of Scotland’s biggest export industries.

I’ve managed to tick a few things off my list on this trip.  Finally visited Balmoral which I said I would do one day.  Tried Cullen Skink for the first time.  Experienced stunning scenery from Glenshee to the Moray coast and along the Aberdeenshire coastline. I’ve seen and appreciated many seabirds, lots of wildlife and dolphins….still no puffins though!

I’ve met dozens of people passionate about their village, town, visitor centre, golf course, fishing, food, drink, outdoor activity and region in general.

I’ve visited film locations, stayed at some lovely places, wandered around the most picturesque fishing villages and visited some spectacular historical buildings…. including the creepy ruins of Dracula’s castle!

In terms of the golf courses,  you won’t find such a wide choice, at such incredible value for money in Scotland… in my opinion!

And finally…. I found out that I knew virtually nothing of this area before I set off.  Even after doing the North East 250 twice (for research purposes of course!) I’ve barely scratched the surface.

Hope you enjoy your trip as much as I enjoyed mine and if you have actually managed to read this far, well done – you are ready for the www.northeast250.com!

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