Golf

The Southwest of Scotland is perhaps best known as the Land of Robert Burns, a romantic, inspiring region once ruled by the Lords of the Isles and today a kaleidoscope of absorbing beauty, stunning seascapes and world class golf to gladden the gloomiest heart.

In Ayrshire and Arran you’ll find one of the finest, most versatile, and most enjoyable ranges of golf courses Scotland, indeed the UK has to offer. From world class links golf to delightful and less challenging links and parkland courses. Here there are three past and present Open Championship venues within a few miles of each other. Prestwick where the greatest championship of them all began in 1860, Turnberry and Royal Troon, all of which are internationally renowned. The British Open returns to Turnberry in 2009.

A golfing trip here to the South West of Scotland wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the two Gailes courses, Glasgow and Western, the 27 holes at Kilmarnock Barassie, James Braid's magnificent Ayr Belleisle and the must visit 12-hole Shiskine course on the Island of Arran. All within easy traveling distance of the hotel.

A little further afield - In Argyll and the Isles the courses are also less well known but the enjoyment just as good. At Machrihanish on the Mull of Kintyre and the Machrie on Islay there is to be found some of the most natural links golf anywhere on earth.

And to the south in Dumfries and Galloway there is Portpatrick and Dumfries and County and that most gleaming of Scottish treasures, the beautiful links of Southerness, to add to the variety of this beautiful region.

• Click here for our own selected list of favourite courses