Links Escape: A Golfer’s Dream Journey
8 nights - 800 miles
Pack your clubs for some golfing greats on this trip from the South West of England to the Scottish Highlands.
About the break
Tee off at one of Britain’s most scenic courses, in South Devon, not far from the pretty seaside town of Salcombe. Thurlestone Golf Club comes with seascapes over nibbled cliffs that once sheltered smugglers, taking in the arch-shaped Thurlestone Rock and Burgh Island, where Agatha Christie wrote and set two of her novels. The Harry-Colt designed course is just minutes from The Thurlestone Hotel, which has arranged discounted green fees. Should you want more, it also offers reduced fees at Bigbury Golf Club and Dartmouth Golf and Country Club nearby.
Stay at Thurlestone Hotel, where you can enjoy coastal views from the rooms as well as the restaurant, and where a hot stone treatment in the spa will soothe weary muscles.
Leaving the South Hams for the north of England, drive via Hertfordshire’s St Albans, known as Verulamium in Roman times and where the Verulam Golf Club with its par 72 course was designed in 1905.
Break up your journey with a stay at Georgian Sopwell House, just five minutes from the golf club, where you will find lovely mews suites and an impressive spa.
Suitably refreshed, drive on to the striking county of Northumberland, where Matfen Hall’s classic parkland courses await. Take your pick from 27 picturesque holes available across three 9-hole courses, plus a smaller, 9-hole Par 3 course. Perfection comes from practice, so head over to The Golf Lab for the latest in simulator technology, or take some tips from the resident PGA pro.
Stay at Matfen Hall, a glorious estate, a haven for golf fans and relaxation-seekers alike – you’ll be seriously spoilt.
Still game for more golf? Then set your course north of the border for the Scottish Highlands, stopping off en route at Edinburgh, where you can play at Prestonfield Golf Club with iconic views of Arthur’s Seat.
Break up your journey with a stay at Prestonfield House, just two minutes from the golf club and five minutes from the old town, in a historic building in which they take theatrical décor to new levels.
Now head for the Highlands, where the Moray Forth cuts in from the coast. It’s here that you’ll find Nairn Golf Club, with views over the water. Recognised as one of the best courses in Britain, it has held the Walker Cup, the Curtis Cup, the Amateur Championship and Women’s Amateur Championship on its greens. No pressure then. It’s just a 30-minute drive from Ness Walk, also by the waterside, on the banks of the River Ness.
Stay at Ness Walk, with contemporary classic rooms in a 19th-century house with modern additions a short walk from the city and ten minutes from Loch Ness.










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