Our take

Castle Stuart as was, and the new name has changed nothing that matters: this is still the Scottish Open venue ordinary golfers actually enjoy playing.

Tell us who’s coming and how you like to play, and we’ll shape the right trip around you.

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How it plays

What you are actually facing

18holes
71par
7,328yards
82mof climb
2water hazards

The walk. Flat, and an easy walk — 82 metres of climb over the round.

The wind. The wind is usually south-westerly, averaging 14 km/h, gusting to 64. It is the club selection that catches people out, not the yardage.

The water. 2 hazards in play. Bring a few more balls than you think you need.

The design. Mark Parsinen and Gil Hanse.

The holes that will cost you. The 12th, the 18th and the 2nd. The 12th is the one you will be talking about afterwards.

Hole by hole — how we would play it
1
547 yards — plays like 535, downhill
a full two-shotter — driver, then a mid/long iron
Into the wind — club up, it plays longer
2
551 yards — flat
three-shot hole — position over power
Into the wind — club up, it plays longer
3
300 yards — flat
position hole — less than driver to your number, leave a full wedge
Into the wind — club up, it plays longer
4
197 yards — flat
one-shotter — club for the effective number, not the card
Downwind — take less
5
451 yards — flat
a full two-shotter — driver, then a mid/long iron
Downwind — take less
6
567 yards — plays like 559, downhill
a full two-shotter — driver, then a mid/long iron
Into the wind — club up, it plays longer
7
502 yards — plays like 507, flat
a full two-shotter — driver, then a mid/long iron
Downwind — take less
8
206 yards — flat
one-shotter — club for the effective number, not the card
Downwind — take less
9
403 yards — flat
driver and a short-iron — take the trouble on only if the line is clean
Downwind — take less
10
393 yards — flat
driver and a short-iron — take the trouble on only if the line is clean
Downwind — take less
11
173 yards — plays like 166, downhill
one-shotter — club for the effective number, not the card
Crosswind — allow for drift
12
585 yards — plays like 593, uphill
three-shot hole — position over power
Downwind — take less
13
440 yards — flat
a full two-shotter — driver, then a mid/long iron
Into the wind — club up, it plays longer
14
383 yards — plays like 374, downhill
driver and a short-iron — take the trouble on only if the line is clean
Into the wind — club up, it plays longer
15
468 yards — plays like 476, uphill
a full two-shotter — driver, then a mid/long iron
Downwind — take less
16
331 yards — flat
position hole — less than driver to your number, leave a full wedge
Downwind — take less
17
245 yards — flat
one-shotter — club for the effective number, not the card
Into the wind — club up, it plays longer
18
586 yards — flat
three-shot hole — position over power
Into the wind — club up, it plays longer

Terrain and prevailing-weather data, read hole by hole. It is our own assessment of how the course plays, not an official course or slope rating.

WHERE TO STAY

Places to stay while you play Cabot Highlands

Base yourself near the course — every venue here includes Cabot Highlands in your golf holiday.

This course1 place to stay

Tap a hotel to open it, or zoom in on the satellite view to see how close each one sits to the first tee.

Venue details checked by the Golf Planet Holidays specialist team · Updated May 2026

Frequently asked questions

Golf holidays in United Kingdom — answers to the questions our golfers ask most.

Where should I play in the United Kingdom?

From challenging links to impressive parkland courses, the UK has it all. Tell us your dream golf holiday scenario.

It is easy to get around the United Kingdom?

Yes, getting around the UK for golf is very straightforward. Self-driving is the most popular choice — the motorway network connects major cities and virtually all golf courses have excellent road access. For Scotland, flights from London to Edinburgh or Glasgow take around 90 minutes, or take the scenic East Coast Main Line overnight. In England, most golf regions — Surrey heathland, Kent links, Yorkshire moorland — are within 2-3 hours of London. We include all transfers in our UK packages and can advise on the best travel approach for your group.

Is the United Kingdom good for groups?

Yes. There are plenty of great options if you are going away with your golfing friends.

What about if I am looking for somewhere special in the United Kingdom?

We offer superb hotels all around the United Kingdom, ideal if you wish to combine high levels of comfort with great golf courses.

Are flights included?

Our golf holidays are arranged ground-only — hotel, golf and transfers. You can add flights through us, and those flights are ATOL protected as part of your booking.

How do golf holidays with Golf Planet Holidays work?

Every trip is tailor-made. Tell us your group, dates and the destinations you fancy, and we build a personal itinerary — hotel, golf and transfers — around them. There are no fixed packages to squeeze into; we shape the whole break to suit how your group likes to play.

Still have a question? Ask our golf travel team — a free, no-obligation quote, no call centre.

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