Why Dundonald Links is a breath of fresh Ayrshire

IT’S EASY TO be swept away by the promise of golden beaches and blue skies, but to paraphrase Aristotle, perfect weather does not a perfect getaway make. Scotland’s west coast may not be a beacon of year-round sunshine and high temperatures, yet it is a region of rich heritage and remarkable natural beauty.

To unlock the area’s full potential, you can’t beat one of its youngest resorts. Situated in the heart of Ayrshire’s long and rugged coastline, Dundonald Links is within arm’s reach of everything the county has to offer: the seaside town of Largs in the north, the beautiful Loch Doon to the south-east and the Isle of Arran is a short ferry ride away.

It’s hard to think of a better place to base yourself while you explore than Dundonald. Here, luxury lodges come in two, four or six-bedroom designs, so even big groups of up to 12 can enjoy serene privacy in their own exclusive hideaway that comes with full self-catering facilities.

Being a golf resort, each lodge is centred around a full-size putting green, but make no mistake – you don’t have to know your way around a golf course to stay at Dundonald Links. Smaller parties can retreat to rooms reminiscent of a premium hotel which, like the lodges, are a stone’s throw from the new and award-winning clubhouse.

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Scottish food is held in high esteem for good reason, and nowhere is that more evident than at Dundonald’s Canny Crow restaurant, situated on the first floor of the clubhouse.

Expert chefs use local ingredients to serve up national delicacies alongside old favourites. Think haggis bonbons, langoustines from Troon Bay and grass-fed Scotch beef and you’ll start to get the idea very quickly.

Behind the bar you’ll find one of the resort’s best-kept secrets: a collection of fine whiskies from Scotland and around the globe, with tasting sessions available for guests to book.

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Dundonald is a name golf fans will have come across before, and it’s just one of many acclaimed layouts in Ayrshire.

If you love to play, legendary venues like Royal Troon, Prestwick and Trump Turnberry are within easy driving distance – and even novices in your group will be able to enjoy Dundonald’s course – designed by American architect Kyle Phillips two decades ago – from the shorter tees.

These days there are great golf courses to be found wherever you look (Phillips himself has built tracks on six continents). But, like jazz in New Orleans or a paella in Valencia, sometimes you can’t top the place where it all started.