Photo: Toby Harvey · Unsplash License
Highlands, Scotland
Cabot Highlands
Gil Hanse and Mark Parsinen's 2009 links above the Moray Firth near Inverness — three-time Scottish Open host and now part of the Cabot golf resort.
Course overview
Formerly known as Castle Stuart Golf Links, Cabot Highlands opened in 2009 on a clifftop site above the Moray Firth near Inverness, designed by American architect Gil Hanse and co-developer Mark Parsinen. The course integrates dramatic coastal bluffs with panoramic views of the Moray Firth, the Black Isle, and — on clear days — the mountains of the Northwest Highlands. It entered Golf Digest's top 100 courses in the world within its first two years and hosted the Scottish Open (a co-sanctioned European Tour and PGA Tour event) in 2011, 2012, and 2014. The Cabot group acquired the property in 2022 and rebranded it Cabot Highlands, adding a second course (the Hogarth Course, 2025) as part of a wider resort development.
The essentials
- Architect
- Gil Hanse and Mark Parsinen
- Established
- 2009
- Type
- Links
- Par
- 72
- Handicap
- HCP 0–28
- Location
- Highlands, Scotland
Character & atmosphere
Wide, sweeping fairways open multiple strategic corridors from the tee, while greens positioned dramatically over coastal bluffs and the Moray Firth create memorable visual and strategic demands on the approach. The course prioritises playability across a range of handicaps while rewarding those who work the ball creatively with the ground.
Highlights
Why play here
- Designed by Gil Hanse and Mark Parsinen, opened in 2009.
- Sea views feature throughout the round.
- A challenging round for golfers who enjoy a proper test.
Signature Hole
9
A par-3 played from a clifftop tee directly above the Moray Firth, requiring a carry over the bluff edge to a green framed by the estuary and the hills of the Black Isle beyond. On clear days the Northwest Highlands are visible to the west. The combination of coastal exposure, dramatic elevation change, and panoramic vista makes this hole the defining image of Cabot Highlands.
Facilities
Practical guidance
Plan your visit
How to get there
Inverness Airport is the closest gateway to Cabot Highlands and is just minutes from the course by car. The B9039 road connects the airport and the links directly. Edinburgh also serves as a practical long-haul gateway, with the drive north taking around 3 hours.
Where to stay
Staying in Dornoch is the natural choice for golfers making the journey to Royal Dornoch — the course is a short walk from most accommodation in the town. The medieval cathedral, sandy beach, and genuinely unhurried pace give the stay a quality that the golf alone cannot account for.
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Scotland
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Remote Highland links including Royal Dornoch and Nairn, set against dramatic northern scenery.