35 - Top 50 UK & Ireland Stay and Play Spey Valley

Stay and Play Spey Valley. Golf Monthly takes a look at the Top 50 places to Stay and Play in the UK and Ireland

Spey Valley

35 - Top 50 UK & Ireland Stay and Play Spey Valley

The Macdonald Aviemore Resort is as picturesque a golfing location as you could wish to find. Sitting along the banks of the River Spey in the shadows of the arresting Cairngorm Mountains, the course - home to Scotland's longest hole (635 yards) - meanders through Caledonian forests before opening up to reveal majestic mountainside. The resort also boasts state-of-the-art leisure facilities, including seven bars and restaurants, a shopping complex, a leisure centre, and even a 3D cinema. The four on-site hotels are supplemented by 18 luxurious woodland lodges, for those seeking additional peace and tranquility in this resplendent Highlands locale.

Rooms & suites: 420 Courses: 1 Golfbreaks.com best Mar/Apr 2014 deal: One night's dinner, B&B and two rounds from £139pp. Visit www.golfbreaks.com

Nick Bonfield
Features Editor

Nick Bonfield joined Golf Monthly in 2012 after graduating from Exeter University and earning an NCTJ-accredited journalism diploma from News Associates in Wimbledon. He is responsible for managing production of the magazine, sub-editing, writing, commissioning and coordinating all features across print and online. Most of his online work is opinion-based and typically centres around the Majors and significant events in the global golfing calendar. Nick has been an avid golf fan since the age of ten and became obsessed with the professional game after watching Mike Weir and Shaun Micheel win The Masters and PGA Championship respectively in 2003. In his time with Golf Monthly, he's interviewed the likes of Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Jose Maria Olazabal, Henrik Stenson, Padraig Harrington, Lee Westwood and Billy Horschel and has ghost-written columns for Westwood, Wayne Riley, Matthew Southgate, Chris Wood and Eddie Pepperell. Nick is a 12-handicap golfer and his favourite courses include Old Head, Sunningdale New, Penha Longha, Valderrama and Bearwood Lakes. If you have a feature pitch for Nick, please email nick.bonfield@futurenet.com with 'Pitch' in the subject line. Nick is currently playing: Driver: TaylorMade M1 Fairway wood: TaylorMade RBZ Stage 2 Hybrid: Ping Crossover Irons (4-9): Nike Vapor Speed Wedges: Cleveland CBX Full Face, 56˚, Titleist Vokey SM4, 60˚ Putter: testing in progress! Ball: TaylorMade TP5x