Clays Golf Club

You'll find Clays Golf Club just outside Chester, a proper 18-hole course that sits comfortably in the Cheshire countryside. It's the kind of place where golfers of all levels can have a decent round without the fuss of a stuffy members-only club. The course itself is well-maintained, with decent greens and enough variation in the holes to keep you thinking about your next shot rather than just smashing it down the fairway.

If you're a golfer staying at one of the nearby parks - Manor Wood is only five miles away, and Willow Farm Glamping not much further - this is worth booking ahead for. Non-golfers might find it a bit dull unless you fancy spending a few hours watching, though the clubhouse is decent enough for a coffee. Allow four to four and a half hours for a full round, or grab a twilight slot if you're only after nine holes.

It's the sort of place that works brilliantly if golf is your thing and you're basing yourselves in the Chester area for a week. You won't need to drive far, and the course gets you out into some genuine country. Family groups where one person plays and the others don't might struggle a bit with the time investment - there's not much else happening on-site while you're out on the course. Best visited mid-week if you can swing it; weekends get busier with members.