Scotland Golf Trip Itinerary: Moray, Highlands and Aberdeenshire

Scottish Golf · Golf Trip Itinerary · Golf Guide

Planning a golf trip to Scotland can quickly become overwhelming. There are famous courses in every direction, and it can be tempting to try to include too much in one itinerary.

For many visiting golfers, one of the best approaches is to focus on a clear region or route rather than trying to cover the whole country in a single trip. Moray, the Highlands and Aberdeenshire work particularly well together because they offer a strong mix of classic links golf, coastal scenery, historic clubs, modern championship venues and memorable places to stay.

This suggested Scotland golf trip itinerary is designed around the north and north-east of Scotland, linking courses such as Royal Dornoch, Nairn, Moray Golf Club, Cruden Bay, Royal Aberdeen and Trump International. It can be adapted into a shorter golf break, a full week in Scotland or part of a longer itinerary that continues towards St Andrews, East Lothian or the west coast.

For visiting golfers, tour operators and groups travelling together, this type of route also works well for professional photography. The courses, landscapes and shared experiences all help tell the story of the trip.

Why Plan a Golf Trip Around Moray, the Highlands and Aberdeenshire?

Moray, the Highlands and Aberdeenshire offer a slightly different Scotland golf experience from the more familiar St Andrews or East Lothian routes.

The courses are spread across dramatic coastline, traditional towns, quieter stretches of linksland and some of the most scenic settings in Scottish golf. A trip through these regions can include world-renowned names, historic clubs, hidden gems and courses that feel closely connected to their surrounding landscape.

For golfers planning a Scotland itinerary, this route works well because it offers variety without losing focus. Instead of rushing from one side of the country to the other, the trip can be built around a natural north and north-east route.

It also suits golfers who want a balance between destination golf and a more personal travel experience. Moray, the Highlands and Aberdeenshire all have their own character, and each region can add something different to the overall trip.

Suggested 7-Day Scotland Golf Trip Itinerary

A 7-day itinerary gives enough time to enjoy the north and north-east of Scotland without making the trip feel too rushed. The exact route will depend on tee times, accommodation and travel plans, but the following structure gives a practical starting point.

Day 1: Arrive and Travel to Moray

Moray is a strong place to begin a golf trip in the north of Scotland. The region has a compact collection of courses, coastal towns, whisky country, historic links and easy access to both the Highlands and Aberdeenshire.

Golfers arriving into Inverness or Aberdeen can use Moray as a central base for the early part of the trip. Lossiemouth, Elgin, Forres and the surrounding area all work well depending on the courses included.

This first day can be kept lighter, with travel, check-in and perhaps a relaxed evening round if time allows.

Day 2: Moray Golf Club, Lossiemouth

Moray Golf Club is one of the key courses to include on a Moray golf trip. Located in Lossiemouth, the club offers the historic Old Course and the New Course, giving visiting golfers the option to play one round or build a fuller day around the club.

For many golfers, Moray Old is the main draw. Its links character, Old Tom Morris connection and coastal setting make it a natural anchor course for this part of the itinerary.

A round at Moray Golf Club also works well from a photography perspective. The course has a strong sense of place, and the experience of playing in Lossiemouth can be captured through action images, group photographs, candid moments and wider course scenes.

For a deeper look at this part of the route, read more about Golf Trip Photography at Moray Golf Club.

Days 1–2: Building a Moray Golf Trip

Moray works well as a golf destination because it offers variety within a relatively small area. A group can combine a major links experience at Moray Golf Club with shorter coastal courses, inland golf, hidden gems and additional rounds along the Moray Firth.

Depending on the length of the trip, golfers could add courses such as Cullen, Hopeman, Elgin, Spey Bay or Covesea Links. This gives the itinerary more texture and helps the trip feel like a wider exploration of the region rather than a single-course stop.

Moray is also a strong choice for golfers who want a Scotland golf trip that feels less crowded and more relaxed. The region has the scenery, history and quality of golf to support a memorable itinerary, but it can feel more personal than some of the better-known golf destinations.

For more detailed planning around this part of the country, see How to Plan a Golf Trip to Moray.

Days 3–4: Highlands Golf Trip

After Moray, the route can continue west and north towards the Highlands.

This part of the trip can include Nairn, Royal Dornoch, Brora, Tain and other Highland courses depending on time and availability. The Highlands offer a powerful combination of traditional links golf, coastal views, historic clubs and the sense of travelling further into Scotland’s golfing landscape.

For groups who want to focus more closely on the north of Scotland, this Highlands golf trip around Cabot Highlands, Nairn and Royal Dornoch gives a practical route to consider.

Nairn Golf Club

Nairn is a natural stop between Moray and the northern Highlands. The club has a strong reputation and a seaside links setting that makes it a memorable part of a Scotland golf itinerary.

For visiting golfers, Nairn can be included as a standalone round or as part of a route towards Dornoch. It also works well for photography because the course, coastline and group experience all help build a strong visual story.

To explore this course in more detail, read Golf Trip Photography at Nairn Golf Club.

Royal Dornoch

Royal Dornoch is often one of the main reasons golfers travel to the Highlands.

For many visiting golfers, playing Royal Dornoch is a highlight of the trip. The setting, the reputation of the Championship Course and the journey north all help make the experience feel significant. It is the kind of round that many groups will have talked about long before they arrive in Scotland.

Professional photography can be especially valuable at this stage of the trip. When a course has been a long-standing goal, the images often become more than a record of the golf. They become part of the memory of the journey.

For more detail, see Golf Trip Photography at Royal Dornoch.

Days 5–6: Aberdeenshire Golf Trip

From the Highlands or Moray, the route can continue east towards Aberdeenshire.

Aberdeenshire gives the itinerary a different feel again. The coastline becomes more dramatic in places, the links are bold and distinctive, and the region includes a strong mix of historic clubs and modern championship golf.

For groups planning a Scotland golf trip, Aberdeenshire works particularly well as a final stage because it offers several standout courses within reach of Aberdeen.

Cruden Bay

Cruden Bay is one of the most visually distinctive golf courses in this part of Scotland. Its movement, coastline, elevation changes and sense of theatre make it a memorable round for visiting golfers.

For photography, Cruden Bay offers a wide variety of images. The course naturally creates strong moments, from tee shots and approach shots to walking images, reactions and wider views across the links.

A round here can feel very different from Moray or Dornoch, which is exactly why it works well in this itinerary.

Royal Aberdeen

Royal Aberdeen is another important Aberdeenshire course to consider, particularly for golfers who want to include one of Scotland’s historic links clubs in their itinerary.

The Balgownie Links has a strong reputation, a classic out-and-back character and a close connection to the history of golf in Aberdeen. For groups travelling through the north-east, it can sit naturally alongside Cruden Bay and Trump International.

For visiting golfers, Royal Aberdeen can provide a more traditional links experience within easy reach of the city.

Trump International, Scotland

Trump International adds a modern championship-style experience to an Aberdeenshire golf trip. Set on the north-east coast, it provides a different contrast to the older links courses in the region.

For many groups, including Trump International alongside Royal Aberdeen and Cruden Bay creates a strong Aberdeenshire section of the itinerary. The mix of course styles gives the trip variety while keeping the travel route practical.

For more detail, see Trump International as Part of an Aberdeenshire Golf Trip.

Planning an Aberdeenshire Golf Trip

Aberdeenshire can work as part of a longer Scotland golf itinerary or as a focused golf break in its own right.

For golfers travelling through Moray and the Highlands first, it can provide a strong finish to the trip. For those arriving into Aberdeen, it can also be the starting point before travelling west towards Moray and north towards Dornoch.

The region is particularly useful for groups who want several high-quality rounds without needing to move accommodation every day. Aberdeen and the surrounding area provide practical access to several courses, restaurants, hotels and transport links.

For a deeper regional guide, see How to Plan a Golf Trip to Aberdeenshire.

Optional Extra Days for a Longer Scotland Golf Itinerary

If time allows, this route can easily be extended.

Golfers could add additional days in Moray, spend longer in the Highlands, include Brora or Tain, or continue south towards St Andrews, Fife and East Lothian. The best option depends on the style of trip, how much travel the group wants to include and whether the focus is on famous courses, hidden gems, historic links or a more relaxed golf holiday.

For a shorter version of the route, Moray and the Highlands can work well together over three to five days. For a longer trip, adding Aberdeenshire gives the itinerary more variety and a stronger north-east Scotland feel.

For golfers still comparing options, Best Short Golf Trips in Scotland for 3 to 5 Days can help with shorter route ideas.

How to Capture the Experience of a Scotland Golf Trip

A Scotland golf trip is often planned months or even years in advance. For many visiting golfers, it is not just about ticking off courses. It is about the group, the travel, the places, the shared moments and the experience of playing golf in a country with such deep connections to the game.

That is why photography can be a valuable part of the trip.

Professional golf trip photography can capture the action, but it can also capture the atmosphere around the round. That might include first tee moments, group photographs, walking images, reactions, course views, clubhouse details and the small in-between moments that often become the most meaningful afterwards.

On a route through Moray, the Highlands and Aberdeenshire, the variety of courses makes the final gallery even stronger. Each region has its own look and feel, giving the group a collection of images that reflects the full journey rather than just one round.

For golfers planning this kind of route, AKH Golf provides golf trip photography in Scotland for visiting groups, tour operators and private golf trips.

Planning Tips for Visiting Golfers

A route through Moray, the Highlands and Aberdeenshire can be shaped in several ways, but a few planning points are worth considering.

Keep the Route Focused

Trying to include too many regions can make the trip feel rushed. Moray, the Highlands and Aberdeenshire already offer enough variety for a strong Scotland golf itinerary.

Allow Time Between Key Rounds

Courses such as Royal Dornoch, Moray Golf Club, Cruden Bay and Royal Aberdeen are worth enjoying properly. Avoid building an itinerary where every day feels like a transfer day.

Think About the Story of the Trip

A good itinerary should have variety. Combining Moray, the Highlands and Aberdeenshire gives the trip a natural story: coastal Moray, Highland links golf and the dramatic north-east.

Plan Photography Around the Most Meaningful Rounds

Some groups choose photography for one key round, while others prefer coverage across several courses. For a longer Scotland golf trip, photography can be arranged around the courses and days that matter most to the group.

Build in Flexibility

Scottish weather can change quickly, and travel times can be longer than expected. A little flexibility can help the trip feel more relaxed.

Suggested Route Summary

A practical 7-day Scotland golf trip could look like this:

Day 1

Arrive in Inverness or Aberdeen and travel to Moray.

Day 2

Play Moray Golf Club in Lossiemouth.

Day 3

Play Nairn Golf Club and travel towards Dornoch.

Day 4

Play Royal Dornoch, with the option to add another Highland course depending on the group.

Day 5

Travel towards Aberdeenshire and play Cruden Bay.

Day 6

Play Royal Aberdeen or Trump International.

Day 7

Add a final Aberdeenshire round, return travel or continue the itinerary towards another Scottish golf region.

This route can be shortened, extended or adapted depending on the courses, accommodation and travel plans.

Enquire About Golf Trip Photography in Scotland

If you are planning a golf trip through Moray, the Highlands, Aberdeenshire or another part of Scotland, AKH Golf can help capture the experience professionally.

Coverage can be arranged for visiting golfers, private groups, tour operator clients, corporate trips and golf travel itineraries. The approach is relaxed and built around the flow of the round, with the aim of capturing natural images without disrupting the golf.

From first tee photographs and on-course action to group moments, course views and candid memories, professional photography gives you a lasting record of your Scotland golf trip.

To discuss photography for your Scotland golf itinerary, get in touch with AKH Golf.

Call +44(0)7485258720 Whatsapp: 447485258720 Email: contact@akhgolf.com