For a Yank foursome planning a trip next July, please compare and contrast the two -- whatever criteria you'd like.
My wife and I played North Berwick and Dunbar on back-to-back days where the starter's shack wind gauge at North Berwick recorded steady 25 mph winds, gusting to 40 or so. I got up and down from 80 yards at NB with a 4 iron.
Dunbar was the first play for us, and it was in a Mixed Foursomes Comp. NB was the second play, having played it in 2006.
Truth be told, I like Dunbar better.... in those conditions. I know it's heresy around here, but for a a couple of 12-14 handicappers like my wife and me, hard courses are WAY overrated. For reference, I love Elie, Brora, Golspie and Tain.
Courses like St. Andrews Jubilee are so difficult they suck the life out of me. Of course, the fact that I played twice in stiff crosswinds might have had an effect.
FWIW, we also played Gullane #2 and Kilspindie while we were in that area. Gullane, near the end of 26 rounds in 30 days was a slog. Those hills are killers. Kilspindie, OTOH, is a proper links course, and while it's pretty short, in the right wind it will get your attention.
If you don't have a place to stay, take a look at Drem Farmhouse B&B. It's close to Gullane and North Berwick and it's a really, really nice place. It's the old farmhouse for a very large and affluent operation.
K