Flackwell Heath Golf Course

If you've got a set of clubs and a decent swing, Flackwell Heath Golf Course just outside Beaconsfield is a solid day out. It's an 18-hole course that plays well without being punishing - the sort of place where you can actually enjoy yourself rather than spend four hours cursing your drives into the rough.

The course sits in proper countryside, which means decent views and a bit of peace away from the hubbub. It's not championship-standard stuff, but that's the point. Golfers of middling ability will find their rhythm here. Beginners might want to book a lesson first; the greens demand some respect even if the fairways are forgiving.

You're looking at a full round taking three to four hours depending on how you play and how busy the course is. Green fees vary by season and day of the week, so worth checking the website before you head out. Weekday mornings are usually quieter if you can swing it.

If you're staying at one of the glamping spots nearby - Shillingridge is only five miles away - Flackwell Heath works nicely as a half-day activity. Hurleyford Farm and Chiltern Retreat are close enough that you could easily base a family holiday in the area and mix in a round or two without it feeling like the whole point of the trip. The surrounding Chiltern landscape is lovely for walking between rounds.