Golf Breaks
Golf accommodation near Inverness, on the road east.
A golf trip has one requirement that overrides everything else: getting out of the door early without waiting for anybody. Hotels are built around a breakfast service. Self-catering is built around whenever you feel like leaving.
Mardon sits directly on the A96 east of Inverness, the road towards the Nairn coast, with free gated parking and a kitchen in both units.
- To Cabot Highlands
- ~10 min
- To Nairn
- 20-25 min
- To Royal Dornoch
- ~1 hr
- To airport
- ~15 min
Why does self-catering suit a golf trip better than a hotel?
Tee times do not negotiate with breakfast service. A kitchen means the group eats at half past five if the first tee says so, and it means a proper meal after eighteen holes without booking a table somewhere first.
This is the whole argument, and it is a practical one rather than a matter of taste. Early tee times in summer are common, and a hotel breakfast that starts at seven is no use for a seven-fifteen slot.
The evening end matters too. Golf finishes when it finishes, often later than planned, and a kitchen removes the scramble to find somewhere still serving.
There is also the group dynamic. A living room you all share beats a hotel bar you all pay individually in, and nobody has to be quiet in a corridor at eleven at night.
Where does the A96 corridor put you for golf?
Heading east towards the Moray coast. Cabot Highlands (Castle Stuart Golf Links) is about 4 miles away (about 10 minutes), Nairn is 20 to 25 minutes by car, and Royal Dornoch is about 1 hour north on the A9. Inverness Airport is about 15 minutes, which suits groups flying in and hiring a car.
The coastal strip east of Inverness is where most visiting golfers are heading, and the A96 is the road that gets you there. Starting each morning already on it, rather than driving out through the city first, is the practical benefit of this side of Inverness.
| Course | Distance | Drive |
|---|---|---|
| Cabot Highlands (Castle Stuart Golf Links) | about 4 miles | about 10 minutes |
| Nairn (Nairn and Nairn Dunbar) | about 17 miles | 20 to 25 minutes |
| Royal Dornoch | - | about 1 hour |
Nairn itself is the anchor: a seaside town 20 to 25 minutes away with a long sandy beach, useful if anyone in the party is not playing.
Book tee times directly with the clubs, and do it before you fix your dates rather than after. Summer availability at the better-known courses goes early, and it is easier to move accommodation than a tee sheet.
Does it work for a group of golfers?
Up to eight, across two self-contained units on the same gated site. The Main House takes five and the Annex three, each with its own kitchen and bathroom, booked as two separate reservations on matching dates.
Two bathrooms across eight people is the number that decides whether a group gets to the first tee on time. It is the practical case for taking both units rather than crowding one.
Parking handles multiple vehicles, which matters because golf groups rarely arrive in one car. It is free, gated, and there is indoor garage space at the Main House.
Both units need to be free on your dates for a full group of eight. How that booking works in detail is on the group accommodation page.
What should a golf group know before booking?
Three things: the minimum stay is two nights, there are no pets, and the location is roadside on the A96 next to a railway line, so it is convenient rather than quiet.
On the noise, being honest is better than being surprised. Guest reviews mention road and railway noise, and for a group getting up at five it is rarely the deciding factor, but you should know before booking rather than after.
Clubs and kit need mentioning at the enquiry stage so storage can be arranged. Do not assume.
Booking direct means no platform fee, with payment by invoice and bank transfer before arrival and a refundable damage deposit of £375 per unit. Full terms are on the booking terms page.
Which Mardon unit suits this kind of stay?
The Main House sleeps up to 5 across 2 bedrooms, and the Annex sleeps up to 3 in 1 bedroom. Both are self-contained with their own kitchen, bathroom and entrance, and both can be booked for the same dates.
| Unit | Sleeps | Bedrooms | From (lowest rate) | Cleaning | Deposit | Min nights |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2-Bedroom Main House | Up to 5 | 2 | £150/night | Included in the rate | £375 refundable | 2 |
| 1-Bedroom Annex | Up to 3 | 1 | £120/night | Included in the rate | £375 refundable | 2 |
| Both units together | Up to 8 | 3 | £270/night combined | Included in both rates | £750 combined, refundable | 2 |
"From" is the lowest nightly rate across the year. The exact rate for your dates is shown when you select them, and the final total is confirmed by your host before any payment is made. A refundable damage deposit of £375 per unit is collected by bank transfer 7 days before arrival and returned within 7 days of check-out, subject to inspection.
The Main House and Annex are separate self-contained units, reserved as two bookings rather than one, each with its own deposit. Availability for both on matching dates is confirmed when you enquire.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Is Mardon a good base for a golf trip near Inverness?
It suits groups driving to coastal courses east of the city. The property sits directly on the A96 towards Nairn, which is 20 to 25 minutes away, with free gated parking at the door.
Can we get an early breakfast before a morning tee time?
Both units are self-catering with their own kitchen, so breakfast happens when you want it rather than when a hotel dining room opens. That is the main practical argument for self-catering on a golf trip.
How far is Mardon from the nearest courses?
Cabot Highlands (Castle Stuart Golf Links) is about 4 miles away, about 10 minutes by car along the A96. Nairn's courses are 20 to 25 minutes east, and Royal Dornoch is about 1 hour north via the A9. Drive times assume normal traffic.
Is there secure parking and somewhere for clubs?
Parking is free and behind a gated entrance off the A96, and the Main House has indoor garage space where clubs can be kept in the car or the garage. Mention clubs when you enquire so the space is set aside before you arrive.
How many golfers can stay?
Up to five in the Main House and three in the Annex, so a group of up to eight if both units are booked for the same dates as two separate reservations.
Do you book tee times?
No. Courses are booked directly with the clubs, and it is worth doing that well ahead for the summer months before you fix your accommodation dates.
What is the minimum stay?
Two nights at both units, which suits a short golf break but rules out a single overnight stop.
Early tee time? Eat when you like.
Send your dates and group size, and mention clubs so storage is sorted before you arrive. Mardon Holiday Home is a licensed short-term let, licence D, HI-50270-F.