Eldon Grove Bowls & Tennis Club

The bowling and tennis courts at Eldon Grove sit just outside Hartlepool, a proper working sports club rather than a tourist attraction. You'll find well-maintained greens for bowls and hard courts for tennis - the sort of place where you can watch locals taking their games seriously, or have a knock-up yourself if you're a member or pay as you go.

This is genuinely for people who want to play rather than spectate. Bowls clubs have their charm if you're into that sort of thing - there's something quite meditative about it - and tennis here gets used by everything from casual players to competitive league teams. The club atmosphere is friendly enough, though it's not somewhere you'd linger for hours without a racket in hand.

If you're staying at Crimdon Dene Holiday Park nearby, it's worth asking at reception whether you can arrange a game. Most clubs welcome visitors if you book ahead and sort the fees. Allow an hour for bowls, longer if you want a proper tennis session. The real value is if someone in your group actually wants to play - otherwise it's a bit of a non-event.

Weather in County Durham being what it is, summer's your best bet. Ring ahead to check availability and costs - they're not always listed online. It fits nicely as an activity day when the beach gets tiresome, particularly for families with kids keen on tennis.