Eldon Grove Tennis Club

You won't find Eldon Grove Tennis Club in the guidebooks, and that's rather the point. This is a proper working sports venue in County Durham, the sort of place where locals come to whack a ball around on clay courts without any fuss. It's a few miles inland from Hartlepool, and appeals almost entirely to tennis players who want court time rather than visitors looking for a spectacle.

If you're staying at Parkdean Resorts Crimdon Dene Holiday Park - just under four miles away - and you've got a tennis racket in the boot, it's worth ringing ahead to see if they have availability. The club operates as a members-focused facility, so casual drop-in play isn't guaranteed, but if you're keen and phone in advance, you might get somewhere.

This isn't a destination in itself. Even committed tennis fans would struggle to justify a day trip here on its own merits. But for families staying at the nearby caravan park who fancy a proper game rather than mini-golf, it fills a gap. The courts are decent, and the atmosphere is genuinely friendly - you'll get proper players and coaches rather than a commercial chain vibe.

Allow an hour or two if you do play. Summer weekends tend to be busier. Don't expect refreshments or facilities beyond the courts themselves. It's functional rather than fancy, which some will appreciate and others will find bit sparse.