Alnwick Squash Club

You won't find Alnwick Squash Club listed in most guidebooks, and that's rather the point. This is a proper members' club tucked away near Chathill in Northumberland, where locals come to play rather than tourists to gawp. If you're a squash player staying at one of the nearby caravan parks - Coast and Castles Camping is just 3.9 miles away - it's worth checking whether they offer day memberships or visitor rates. The club itself is straightforward: four walls, a court, decent enough facilities for a game before dinner.

What makes it worth knowing about is context. You're in excellent walking country here, and if your holiday involves both outdoor trails and wanting to stay active on rainy afternoons, a squash session fills the gap nicely. It's not a day trip destination - you won't travel here for the experience alone. But if you're based at Percy Wood Holiday Park or Dunstan Hill for a week, and someone in your party is a keen player, ring ahead and see what they can arrange.

The nearest towns - Chathill itself is tiny - are Alnwick (proper medieval castle town) and Morpeth. Both are close enough for a morning out, leaving your afternoons free. Allow an hour for a game plus changing. It's the kind of place that wouldn't exist without the community that uses it, which is exactly why it's worth supporting if you're in the area and fancy a knock-up.