Carlisle Golf Club

Carlisle Golf Club sits on the outskirts of the city proper, an 18-hole course that's been going for well over a century. If you're the type who likes to swing a club before breakfast and then crack on with the rest of your day, this is a solid option - nothing flashy, just proper golf on a working course that takes itself seriously without being stuffy about it.

The layout is straightforward parkland, nothing that'll humiliate a mid-handicapper, though there are enough bunkers to keep you honest. You're looking at a couple of hours minimum if you're playing at leisure, three if it's a busy day. The real draw is the peace of it - you're close enough to Carlisle town centre for facilities, but far enough out that you feel genuinely removed.

This works best for visiting golfers who've brought their clubs on holiday rather than casual day-trippers. If you're staying at one of the nearby parks - Englethwaite Hall is barely twenty minutes away, as are Eden Valley Glamping and Drybeck Farm - and you fancy a round, ring ahead to check availability and green fees. They're used to accommodating visiting players, though it's worth knowing their typical rates before you pitch up.

If golf isn't your thing but someone in your party is keen, there's enough going on in and around Carlisle to keep non-golfers occupied for the duration. The course itself won't hold your attention if you're not swinging a club.