Coul Links landowner Edward Abel Smith, said he was “absolutely gutted” at the decision, and said a golf course would have been “transformational for the area.”

He said: “During this planning application, many organisations put time, resources and money into stopping the development.

“As they seem to find Coul Links such an important site, I look forward to seeing them now come forward to arrest its continuing degradation with time, resources and, of course, money.”

Scottish ministers took over the decision on the application in February 2024 because of concerns about its possible impact on important protected wildlife sites and to assess its potential economic benefits.

A coalition of seven environmental and conservation organisations opposed to the development

The groups included RSPB Scotland, Buglife, Butterfly Conservation, National Trust for Scotland, Plantlife Scotland, Scottish Wildlife Trust and Ramblers Scotland.

Jo Pile, from the Scottish Wildlife Trust, said: “This process and outcome show how highly the people of Scotland value nature and how much they are willing to fight for it, no matter how many challenges we face.”

Ramblers Scotland director Brendan Paddy welcomed the rejection of a “damaging and inappropriate application at one of the east coast’s last undeveloped dune systems”.

He added: “Up to seven holes would have crossed the John o’ Groats Trail, walkers’ access would have been impacted by greens and fairways, and the pleasure of enjoying the natural dune landscape would have been lost forever.”