Staff WriterIn the heart of the Scottish Highlands, where the air smells faintly of heather, history, and the occasional wayward tee shot, Cabot Highlands has decided that 400 years of Castle Stuart deserve more than just a polite round of applause.
They’ve rolled out the official Cabot Highlands Tartan, a bespoke weave of heritage, golf, and a dash of Highland swagger – and, while they’re at it, opened a brand-new Tom Doak creation, Old Petty, now in preview play.
Castle Stuart, perched like a granite sentinel on the Moray Firth, has been standing since 1625, courtesy of James Stuart, 1st Earl of Moray. Once a grand relic of a bygone era, it’s now the showpiece of Cabot Highlands – where tradition isn’t just preserved, it’s paraded down the fairway in style.
With Old Petty’s third hole skirting so close to the castle’s turrets you could almost chip onto the battlements, Doak’s latest design has quickly become one of golf’s most talked-about new layouts.
The Cabot Highlands Tartan comes courtesy of Clare Campbell, a Highlands designer who clearly knows her way around a colour palette.
She’s drawn from the muted greens, earthy browns, and misty blues of the surrounding landscape, creating a pattern woven at the last remaining tartan mill still operating in the Highlands. In other words, this isn’t your tourist shop tea towel – it’s the real thing.
“Celebrating the 400th anniversary of Castle Stuart is an incredible milestone and we’re honoured to mark the occasion by unveiling the official tartan of Cabot Highlands,” said Mark Wright, general manager & regional VP, hospitality, Cabot Highlands.
“Woven at the last operating tartan mill in the Highlands, this bespoke piece is a tribute to the rich history of the land and the enduring spirit of the region.”
The tartan is meant for more than just special occasions – it’s wearable both on and off the course, the kind of thing you could sport while sinking a putt or sinking a dram.
“At Cabot, branding has always been about storytelling with purpose. From day one, we’ve been intentional about every detail, and the creation of the Cabot Highlands tartan is no exception,” said Jules Cowan-Dewar, chief marketing officer, Cabot.
“It’s more than a design – it’s a symbol of place, history and identity that connects our guests to the Highlands in a deeply authentic way.”
A limited-edition Cabot Highlands Tartan Collection is now available exclusively in the golf shop, alongside the 400th anniversary logo collection, which you can also snag online.
The tartan pieces, however, remain in-store only – the kind of exclusivity that will make collectors twitch.
It’s all part of Cabot’s knack for marrying history with modern golf ambition. With Doak’s Old Petty joining the world-renowned Castle Stuart course, and a tartan to match the grandeur, Cabot Highlands has managed to pull off something rare: honouring four centuries of heritage while teeing up the next chapter.
