Macdonald Spey Valley Resort is a brilliant choice for a Scotland golf holiday, especially for UK golfers who want Highland scenery, resort convenience and a proper championship course on site. Set in Aviemore, in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park, the resort gives you easy access to mountain views, forest walks, whisky country and one of inland Scotland’s most memorable golf layouts.

The main draw is Spey Valley Championship Golf Course, an 18-hole, par-72 course designed by Dave Thomas. It stretches to 7,153 yards and runs through ancient Caledonian pine forest, alongside the River Spey and around natural lochs, giving the round a very different feel from Scotland’s coastal links courses. The course also hosted the European Challenge Tour’s Scottish Hydro Challenge from 2009 to 2018.

For golfers, Spey Valley offers plenty of drama. The 5th hole measures 635 yards and is one of the longest holes in Scotland, while the 16th asks for a long, accurate tee shot over water with heather waiting for anything loose. Wildlife is part of the experience too, with deer, red squirrels and osprey all noted around the course.

Away from the course, the resort has a clubhouse bar and restaurant, a 9-hole academy course and lesson options, making it useful for mixed-ability groups. For a Scottish golf break with fresh air, big scenery and Highland character, Macdonald Spey Valley Resort is a very strong option.