Golf In Scotland
Hillwalking & Climbing in Scotland | Cycling | Skiing | Surfing | Fishing | Golf | Wildlife Watching in Scotland | Outdoor Activities | Best Wildlife Watching Locations
Scotland has over 400 golf courses, with more being built all the time, and, therefore has more courses per head of population than any other country in the world. Any decent sized town in Scotland will have a golf course nearby and most, if not all, are available for play. There are many public courses, which tend to be both cheap and extremely busy, often have excellent layouts.
The majority of private clubs allow visitors, although many have restrictions as to what days these visitors can play. Weekends are usually reserved for club competitions for the members so it is best to try to play on a weekday. All private clubs have a dress code and it is inadvisable to turn up for a round in a collarless shirt and jeans. These minor caveats aside, you are more than likely to receive a warm and courteous welcome.
One of the unique attractions of golf in Scotland is the accessibility of its famous venues. The average football fan will never get the chance to play at Wembley Stadium, likewise the club tennis player is unlikely to play a few sets on the Centre Court at Wimbledon, but any golfer can, for example, play at Carnoustie or St Andrews. This represents a unique opportunity to follow in the footsteps of golf's legendary players and compare your own game, however unfavourably, with theirs. Green fees for one of the top championship courses will cost from around £40 upwards. Many clubs offer a daily or weekly ticket. A Golf Pass Scotland costs between £46 and £70 for five days (Monday-Friday), depending on the area.
Golf in Scotland is a free brochure listing 400 courses and clubs with accommodation details. For a copy contact the Scottish Tourist Board. The British Tourist Authority (BTA) has a very useful Golfing Holidays booklet which provides details of golfing holidays and major golf tournaments in Britain.
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Information on outdoor activities in Scotland like diving, surfing, etc
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Skiing In Scotland
Hillwalking & Climbing in Scotland | Cycling | Skiing | Surfing | Fishing | Golf | Wildlife Watching in Scotland | Outdoor Activities | Best Wildlife Watching Locations
Holiday Cottages Near Ski Resorts in Scotland
Conditions in Scotland are not as good or reliable as anywhere in the Alps, but on a clear, sunny day, and with good snow, you can enjoy some decent skiing. However, at weekends, in conditions like these, expect the slopes to be very busy. Scotland offers both alpine (downhill) and nordic (cross-country) skiing, as well as the increasingly popular snowboarding. The high season is from January to April, but it is possible to ski from as early as November to as late as May. Ski packages are available, but it's easy to arrange everything yourself and there's plentiful accommodation and facilities in and around the ski centres.
There are five ski centres in Scotland. The largest are Glenshee, which has the most extensive network of lifts and selection of runs, as well as snow machines, and Cairngorm, which has almost 30 runs spread over an extensive area. Glencoe is the oldest of the ski resorts, and the Nevis Range, at Aonach Mor near Fort William, has the highest ski runs and only gondola in Scotland, as well as a dry slope. The Lecht is the most remote centre, and is good for beginners and families and for nordic skiing. Access to all five centres is easiest by car. Each resort has a ski patrol and facilities for snowboarding.
Costs
Ski equipment and clothing can be hired at all resorts, but lessons should be booked in advance. Prices vary from centre to centre, but on average expect to pay around £13 per day for hire of skis, sticks and boots, and around £12 per day for ski clothes. Snowboard hire is around £16-17 per day for board and boots. Lift passes cost around £18-20 per day, or £68-80 for five days. Ski lessons are around £18 for four hours. Packages including ski hire, tuition and lift pass cost from around £125 to £155 for five days. These prices are for adults; prices for juniors are less.
Information
Details for each of the five resorts, including phone numbers, are given in the appropriate place in the main text. For further general information contact the Scottish Tourist Board for its Ski Scotland brochure and accommodation list, or visit their website, Ski Scotland which is updated daily. Or you can contact the Scottish National Ski Council, Tel. 0131-3177280, Scottish National Ski Council They produce a useful Snowsport Scotland Handbook.
The Ski hotline weather-report service gives the latest snow and weather conditions plus a five-day forecast. Phone: Tel. 0891-654 followed by: 655 for Cairngorm; 656 for Glenshee; 657 for The Lecht; 658 for Glencoe; 660 for Nevis Range; and 659 for cross country skiing.
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Niche Travel Interests
Hillwalking & Climbing in Scotland | Cycling | Skiing | Surfing | Fishing | Golf | Wildlife Watching in Scotland | Outdoor Activities | Best Wildlife Watching Locations
Scotland is a great country for outdoor activities and many visitors come specifically to enjoy the magnificent scenery as they walk in the hills, cycle through forests, ski down mountains or head off in search of rare wildlife. The coastline, lochs and rivers are ideal for fishing and offer plenty of opportunities for a whole range of watersports, including windsurfing, sailing and scuba diving, and there are lots of beautiful beaches, especially on the northwest coast and the islands.
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Some ideas for where and how to see the local wildlife in Scotland
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