Budock Vean Golf Club

The drive down to Budock Vean Golf Club from Helston takes you through proper Cornish countryside - narrow lanes, high hedgerows, the works. What you find is an 18-hole course that sits on the Helford River, which gives it a genuinely special setting that most UK golf clubs can't match.

It's a members' club primarily, so day visitors need to book ahead and ideally have a handicap certificate, though it's worth ringing to check current visitor policies. The course itself is well-maintained and reasonably challenging without being brutish - the river views alone make it worth the trip if you're a golfer with any passing interest in the game.

Non-golfers will find it a scenic spot for a walk around the grounds, and the clubhouse does do food and drinks. You're looking at a good three to four hours if you're playing a full round.

For a golfing holiday based at one of the nearby glamping spots like Stay Wild or The Secret Garden - both just five miles away - this is an excellent local option. It's got character in spades compared to your typical resort course, and the setting down on the river makes even a mediocre round feel like an occasion. Ring ahead before you visit; it'll save disappointment.