Top 50: Top views
The UK and Ireland’s most scenic courses, and only one is over £50!
There surely isn’t a golfer who doesn’t enjoy a course with a view. Whether inland or by the coast, we’ve selected 50 of the most picturesque layouts in the UK and Ireland – and we know you’ll adore every single one of them. There’s a bonus too, because some of them cost as little as a tenner to play, and only one will set you back more than £50. Oh, and no matter where you live in the country, there’s bound to be at least one or two within a short drive of you…
ENGLAND
ALNMOUTH VILLAGE, NORTHUMBERLAND This cracking layout is the oldest nine-hole links in England and the stunning North Sea coastal views are worth the green fee alone. It’s fun, quirky and provides superb value. Green fees: £10 until the end of February. Tel: 01665 830370.
BAKEWELL, DERBYSHIRE Blessed with magical Peak District scenery overlooking the eponymous town and the river Wye, inland courses don’t come much more scenic than this nine-hole beauty, which has been around for well over a century. Green fees: £15 midweek, £20 weekends. Tel: 01629 812307.
BATH, SOMERSET Arguably one of the leading inland layouts in the west, this Harry Colt downland has been entertaining and challenging golfers from near and far since the late 19th Century. Known locally as ‘Sham Castle’ – the name of the neighbouring architectural folly. Green fees: £44 midweek, £52 weekends. Tel: 01225 466953.
BIGBURY, DEVON Short but tricky layout that guarantees great holiday golf and a severe test if the wind is blowing – so you can’t afford to get distracted by the breathtaking panoramic views. Green fees: £33-£39. Tel: 01548 810557.
BUDE & NORTH CORNWALL, CORNWALL Flat, easy-walking links that pleasingly runs through the centre of the popular seaside town close to the beach. Make sure you take care on the lightning quick greens, which have a mix of subtle and severe borrows. Green fees: £28. Tel: 01288 352006.
CARLYON BAY, CORNWALL Home of a luxury hotel perched on the clifftops, which is also the location for the outstanding course, an impressive clifftop/ parkland layout with a stunning stretch of coastal holes around the turn. Green fees: £40 in Mar. Tel: 01726 814228.
CHAPEL-EN-LE-FRITH, DERBYSHIRE Plotted on the valley floor between Chapel-en-le-frith and Whaley Bridge on the edge of Combs Reservoir – so you’re presented with views of the surrounding peaks and ridges. Green fees: £20 for 18 holes. Tel: 01298 812118.
CHURCH STRETTON, SHROPSHIRE Undoubtedly one of the most scenic courses in the UK, being the third-highest course in Britain. The unique, quirky layout sits atop stunning Shropshire Hills – an area of
outstanding natural beauty – and the views just go on forever! Green fees: £30 midweek, £40 weekends. Tel: 01694 722281/07973 762510.
CROWBOROUGH BEACON, SUSSEX An Alistair Mackenzie creation perched 800ft above sea level and although relatively short it is no stroll in the park. Most fairways are sprinkled with penal heather that is waiting to gobble up any wayward strikes.
Green fees: £30-£50. Tel: 01892 661511.
HOCKLEY, HAMPSHIRE Cracking James Braid downland layout that is one of the county’s finest. Being built on freedraining chalk, it is always in tip-top condition. It also sits on a wonderful piece of land within the South Downs National Park.
Green fees: Winter fourball special – 18 holes with soup of the day, £140. Tel: 01962 713165.
ILFRACOMBE, SOMERSET Short but challenging clifftop layout within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The potent combination of the prevailing southwesterly wind and its undulating terrain make it a proper test for any standard of player. You can see the sea from every hole.
Green fees: £30 midweek, £40 weekends. Tel: 01271 862176.
ILKLEY, WEST YORKSHIRE The river Wharfe dangerously lurks on the first seven holes of this delightfully scenic,
rolling parkland layout with views of the worldfamous Moor providing the backdrop. Green fees: £28 until the end of March. Tel: 01943 607463.
KIRKBY LONSDALE, CUMBRIA Situated in the beautiful Lune Valley – part of the Yorkshire Dales National Park – with sensational views of the surrounding fells from all parts of the course. Kirkby Lonsdale is a special place to play.
Green fees: £20 until March 31. Tel: 01524 276365.
LYME REGIS, DORSET You’ll absolutely adore it here. It occupies a clifftop site and enjoys coastal views towards
Portland Bill as well as overlooking the historic town and World Heritage Site of Lyme Regis. The course is short but testing.
Green fees: £40. Tel: 01297 442963.
MENDIP, SOMERSET An upland course with plenty of elevation changes and sumptuous scenery. You can see seven counties and the Bristol Channel from its highest point at nearly 1,000ft.
Green fees: £30 midweek, £35 weekends. Tel: 01749 840793.
MULLION, CORNWALL The most southerly course in the country, Mullion is framed by sandy coves and protected reed beds and is plotted on the
cliffs of the Lizard Peninsula. The combination of the views, customary wind and fabulous par-4 10th will take your breath away! Green fees: £30 a day until March 31. Tel: 01326 241176. SALTBURN-BY-THE-SEA, NORTH YORKS Splendid undulating and quirky parkland layout with top views – in all directions. It’s terrific value for money too, but beware of the four par 3s, especially the 222-yard 12th.
Green fees: £16-£23. Tel: 01287 624653. SHANKLIN & SANDOWN, ISLE OF WIGHT An impressive 2-FORE!-1 venue and this one is a mature par-70 layout which has staged a collection of Hampshire County Championships while boasting superb drainage and quality year-round golf.
Green fees: Winter fourball (until March 31) – £99, including ferry crossing from Southampton. Tel: 01983 403217. SCARBOROUGH SOUTH CLIFF, YORKSHIRE An outstanding clifftop/parkland combination plotted either side of the main Scarboroughfiley road. The highlights here are the 4th to 10th holes that are perched high on the cliffs, affording awesome coastal views.
Green fees: £35 midweek, £40 weekends. Tel: 01723 360522. SEAFORD, SUSSEX A JH Taylor-designed downland layout that moved to its present Blatchington location in 1907, providing glorious panoramas of the Sussex Downs on one side and the English Channel on the other.
Green fees: Until March 31 - £28 midweek, £35 weekends. Tel: 01323 894160. SENE VALLEY, KENT The nearest course to the Channel Tunnel, overlooking Romney Marsh. It sits quite high on top of an escarpment and as a result every green slopes tantalisingly towards the sea. Green fees: Nov-mar - £30 midweek, £40
weekends. Tel: 01303 262550. SILLOTH-ON-SOLWAY, CUMBRIA An outstanding links with a superb variety of holes ranging from the Postage Stamp-esque 9th to the long 5th, with its fairway gloriously running parallel to the beach. One of the Top 100 courses in Britain and Ireland.
Green fees: Mar 13-26 - £36 a day midweek, £48 a round at weekends. Tel: 01697 331304. SILVERDALE, LANCS Set in a stunning location at the heart of the Arnside and Silverdale Area of Natural Beauty next to a RSPB reserve, Silverdale affords fabulous views over the surrounding countryside, across Morecambe Bay and towards the Cumbrian Howgill Fells. Green fees: £15-£24. Tel: 01524 701300. STADDON HEIGHTS, DEVON Located on the outskirts of the historic naval city of Plymouth, Staddon Heights is a dramatic par-70 clifftop layout with wonderful Plymouth views along the Devon and Cornwall coastline, Plymouth Sound, and inland over the Dartmoor and Bodmin hills. Green fees: £22-£40. Tel: 01752 402475. STINCHCOMBE HILL, GLOUCESTERSHIRE Spectacularly set on the southern edge of the Cotswold Escarpment 700ft above the Severn Valley, Stinchcombe is the combined design nous of Fred Hawtree and James Braid and has been labelled “among the most scenic courses in Europe.”
Green fees: From £15. Tel: 01453 543878. THE BRISTOL, GLOUCESTERSHIRE This fast-maturing undulating parkland layout sits on 200-year-old parkland and provides stunning views across the Severn Estuary with the elevated tee of the par-4 3rd hole quite literally providing the highspot.
Green fees: Until March 31 - £25 midweek, £30 weekends. Tel: 01454 620000. THE WELCOMBE, WARWICKSHIRE Rolling mature parkland that sits at the heart of Shakespeare country, being down the road from Stratford-upon-avon. Several elevated tees, including the dramatic short par-4 12th, mean you can see for miles.
Green fees: Until April - £36-£50. Tel: 0330 028 3422. THURLESTONE, DEVON It’s south Devon’s answer to Pebble Beach and certainly this largely unheralded links/ clifftop layout runs alongside Bigbury Bay and affords fantastic views. It’s noted as being in great nick all year round too.
Green fees: £42 until the end of April. Tel: 01548 560405. WALMER & KINGSDOWN, KENT Perched atop the White Cliffs of Dover, this James Braid clifftop layout provides plenty of drama and sits on chalky downland turf so is in terrific condition whenever you visit.
Green fees: Mon-fri £40; Sat-sun £50. 2-FORE!-1: Mon-fri. Tel: 01304 373256. WELLS, SOMERSET Situated on the outskirts of historic Wells,
from the upper reaches of the course you’re treated to a panoramic splendour which includes the magnificent cathedral, Glastonbury Tor and the Mendip Hills. Green fees: £16-£25. Tel: 01749 675005.
WHITBY, NORTH YORKSHIRE Wherever you are on this clifftop course you enjoy a view of the coast between Kettleness and iconic Whitby Abbey. You also get inland views towards the North York Moors. Green fees: Until March 25 - £11-£25. Tel: 01947 600660.
WINDERMERE, CUMBRIA Short moorland course within the Lake District that is unsurprisingly blessed with delightful views over Windermere and the surrounding fells. It’s no wonder it’s been dubbed a “miniature Gleneagles”. Green fees: £40. Tel: 01539 443123.
SCOTLAND
BRAID HILLS, EDINBURGH Historic municipal that towers above Scotland’s capital with outstanding views to the Pentland hills and across the city to the Firth of Forth. Under 6,000 yards, it’s all about hitting shots from one hilly crag to the next. Green fees: £24.80 midweek, £26.50 weekends. Tel: 0131 658 1111.
CALLANDER, THE TROSSACHS Plotted within Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, this is another strong candidate for the ‘most scenic golf course in the UK’ award. Stylish parkland with views to the foothills of the Highlands. Green fees: £30 midweek, £40 weekends. Tel: 01877 330090.
COMRIE, PERTHSHIRE Surely one of the finest and most picturesque nine-holers in the UK. It was founded in 1891 and was the handiwork of James Braid. The views of the surrounding Perthshire hills are out of this world. Green fees: £20 for 18 holes. Tel: 01764 670055.
CRAIL, FIFE Proud home of two contrasting clifftop layouts – the ancient Balcomie and the modern Craighead. Old Tom’s handiwork on the former is still as zesty as ever, remaining one of the Kingdom’s most breathtaking venues. Green fees: £47 in March & for a midweek round in April. Tel: 01333 450686.
GIRVAN, AYRSHIRE A James Braid links/parkland from 1902 that enjoys the same stunning views towards Ailsa Craig and Arran as neighbouring Turnberry – but Girvan is just a fraction of the price. Green fees: £20. Tel: 01465 714346.
SHISKINE, ISLE OF ARRAN Of the seven Isle of Arran courses, this quirky 12-holer is the star, and features two unforgettable back-to-back par 3s which both happen to deliver unforgettable Mull of Kintyre views. It is rarely anything but scenic. Green fees: £25 midweek, £30 weekends. Tel: 01770 860226.
SPEY VALLEY, HIGHLANDS Among architect Dave Thomas’ finest work, Spey Valley opened in 2006 and plays to a backdrop of the Cairngorms. It also has the river Spey running through it and is long and demanding… and will take your breath away. Green fees: From £55. Tel: 01479 812920.
THE GLEN, EAST LOTHIAN The unsung hero of ‘Scotland’s Golf Coast’ may be overshadowed by the likes of Muirfield, North Berwick and Gullane but this clifftop has the best views. Golfers are regularly drinking in majestic Firth of Forth views with Bass Rock looming large. Green fees: From £35. Tel: 01620 892726.
TRAIGH, WEST HIGHLANDS A must-play if you’re in this remote location, this nine-hole links – the most westerly course on the UK mainland – sits in one of the most beautiful parts of the West Highlands just north of Arisaig. Green fees: £20. Tel: 01687 450337.
WALES
BALA, GWYNEDD Quirky bunkerless 10-holer laid out on a plateau nearly 900ft above sea level in Snowdonia National Park with Llyn Tegid – the largest natural lake in Wales – way down
below. Starts with a 231-yard par-3 opener. Green fees: £20 midweek, £25 weekends (for 18 holes). Tel: 01678 520359.
CRADOC, BRECON Plotted on the edge of Brecon Beacons National Park, every hole – most of which are lined by mature trees – enjoys stunning views of the north slopes of the ‘Beacons’ and an abundance of wildlife is on offer too. Green fees: £36 a day. Tel: 01874 623658.
DOLGELLAU, GWYNEDD Parkland nine-holer in Snowdonia National Park with different tees for the back nine. It’s overlooked by Cader Idris, one of the highest mountains in Wales. The club is for sale with a precarious future – so play it while you can! Green fees: £20 for 18 holes until March 31. Tel: 01341 422603.
LLANDRINDOD WELLS, POWYS This upland course was originally created by Harry Vardon and is a rare chance to play links-style golf amid rolling hills. The layout
overlooks the town and neighbouring valleys. Green fees: £30 midweek, £35 weekends. Tel: 01597 823873.
NEFYN & DISTRICT, GWYNEDD You’ll find 26 holes at this thrilling venue but it’s the Old Course holes that steal the limelight. They are spectacularly perched on a fairly narrow strip of land on a peninsula towering high above the coastline. Green fees: In April - £36 Sun-thurs, £41 Fri & Sat. Tel: 01758 720102.
NORTH WALES, GWYNEDD A great-value links that overlooks Conway Bay. The best views can be enjoyed from the elevated tees of the signature par-3 holes at 16 and 17. They are cryptically named OL and LO (Oh Hell and Hello!) Green fees: Until March 30 - £20 midweek, £23 Sun, £25 Sat. Tel: 01492 876878.
TENBY, PEMBROKESHIRE One of the oldest courses in Wales is the handiwork of James Braid, albeit significantly
aided by Mother Nature. It’s a top links with unique holes, fast and undulating greens and superb views across to Caldey island.
Green fees: From £25. Tel: 01834 844447.
IRELAND
RATHMORE (VALLEY LINKS), CO ANTRIM Harry Colt layout that sits between the giant dunes of the East Strand and Royal Portrush’s Championship Dunluce links. You’ll love the 5th (a short par 4) and 6th (long par 3) set in their own scenic natural valley. Green fees: £42.50 midweek, £55 weekends. Tel: 02870 822996.
RING OF KERRY, CO KERRY Created by the late Eddie Hackett but more so by Mother Nature – perhaps even more than Tenby. Stand on the par-3 13th tee, looking down to Kenmare Bay with the Caha mountains and Macgillicuddy’s Reeks all around you, and you’ll be in golfing heaven. Rarely a flat hole or a poor backdrop. Green fees: Until Feb 28 – £22. Tel: 00353 64664 2000.