Cruden Bay Golf Transfers & Chauffeur Tours
Cruden Bay, 25 miles north of Aberdeen, is a Tom Simpson links routed through some of the tallest dunes in Britain. Blind shots, elevated tees, greens tucked into hollows — this is old-school links golf preserved almost exactly as designed. Consistently ranked in the world's top 100.
Opened in 1899 as the Cruden Bay Hotel course to serve the Great North of Scotland Railway's new station. The hotel is gone, the course endures. Tom Simpson revised the layout in 1926 and his work still defines the round.
Return chauffeur transfers to Cruden Bay Golf Club start from £550 return from Dundee and from £900 return from Edinburgh Airport (EDI), with clubs, luggage and waiting time included.
Drive times: Aberdeen city centre — 35 min (23 mi); Aberdeen Airport — 40 min (25 mi); Trump International Aberdeen — 30 min (18 mi); Royal Aberdeen (Balgownie) — 30 min (20 mi).
Recommended vehicle: Bentley Mulsanne for the drive up the coast. This is a scenic run and the Mulsanne makes the most of it. For a group, the Vito is fine — the roads are single-carriageway and pace is sedate anyway.
Aberdeenshire links — 3 courses: Day 1 Royal Aberdeen (Balgownie). Day 2 Cruden Bay. Day 3 Trump International Aberdeen. All within 45 minutes of each other; base in central Aberdeen or the coastal hotels around Newburgh.
Cruden Bay is 40 minutes north of Aberdeen and around 2 hours from Dundee, so we quote it as a day hire from Aberdeen or as part of a north-east tour from further south. Pairing it with Trump International, 25 minutes away at Balmedie, is the efficient way to use the car — one day hire, two championship links, no repositioning.
Nearby courses, hotels and venues: Trump International Golf Links — 25 min south at Balmedie. Murcar Links and Royal Aberdeen — 35–40 min south, two classic Aberdeenshire links. Slains Castle — A 10-minute walk from the course; Stoker's Dracula inspiration. Newburgh-on-Ythan — 15 minutes south, a good short second round. Aberdeen chauffeur & luxury car hire — Our nearest city page for hotels and ABZ pickups.
Clubhouse is compact — bag drop is easy, parking is easy. Chauffeur waits during the round. Lunch at the Kilmarnock Arms or Slains Castle ruins for the view.
How does Cruden Bay compare to Royal Dornoch? Similar reputation, similar remoteness. Cruden Bay is more dramatic in elevation; Dornoch is more strategic.
Is Aberdeen the closest airport? Yes — 40 minutes door to first tee.
Best time to visit? May–September. Winter play is possible but the wind off the North Sea is significant.
Is there much to do at Cruden Bay beyond the golf? The village is small and that is part of its charm. Slains Castle is a ten-minute clifftop walk from the 18th, the Bullers of Buchan sea arch is five minutes north, and Aberdeen's restaurants are 40 minutes away — which is why most of our guests play here and dine in the city, with the car waiting rather than anyone driving.