DG Issue 25 - February 2015 | Page 21

astle interior don’t be surprised if the real highlight of your trip turns out to be the castle itself. www.ferniecastle.co.uk PLAY: Kingsbarns Golf Links. Designed by leading golf architect Kyle Phillips, Kingsbarns is a tribute to classic Scottish links and has come on in leaps and bounds since opening in 2000. The course meanders along more than one-and-a-half miles of rugged seashore offering ocean views from every hole. Featuring spacious fairways rolling and twisting through dune ridges and hollows, true links turf and large greens, the course is challenging yet playable. “At Kingsbarns it’s all about risk and reward,” says David Scott, Director of Golf. “You can play to a safe area but it’s likely to be a tough angle to the green. If you take a gamble and go the Tiger line, you will have the choice of playing a running shot or one through the air.” www. kingsbarns.com Other golf courses: St Andrews Old Course & Gleneagles. EAST COAST STAY: Ethie Castle. An ancient sandstone keep dating from the 14th Century, Ethie Castle is reputed to be Scotland’s second oldest permanently inhabited castle, and was immortalised by Sir Walter Scott as ‘Knockwinnoch’ in the novel The Antiquary. In recent years it has been meticulously restored and maintained and is currently the residence of the de Morgan family. “First and foremost, this is a family home, but we have three rooms available and can accommodate up to eight people,” says Kirtsin de Morgan. “We are well positioned for outdoor pursuits and there’s plenty of golfing possibilities in the area too with Carnoustie at the top of the list and when it comes to fly fishing for salmon and brown trout you can take you pick from the North Esk and South Esk rivers.” www.ethiecastle. com PLAY: Carnoustie Golf Links. A 30-minute drive down the Angus coastline is the town of Carnoustie and home to the renowned Championship Course, originally laid out in 1840 by Allan Robertson, with major changes being introduced later by Old Tom Morris and James Braid. There’s nothing to match the experience of playing one of the most famous and challenging courses in world golf and the finishing hole with the clubhouse in the background is a highlight. A scene of major drama in the 99 and 07 British Opens, this 510-yard par-4 will play as a par-5 for the majority Volume 3 • Issue 25 21