Hurdwick Golf Course

Eighteen holes set among Devon's moorland - that's what you get at Hurdwick Golf Course just outside Tavistock. The layout winds through proper countryside, with enough elevation changes to keep things interesting without becoming ridiculous. Views across to the tors make it worth playing even if your handicap isn't worth mentioning.

Golfers will spend a solid three and a half hours here, longer if the course is busy. It's not tournament-level challenging, but it's not a pitch-and-putt either. The greens are well-kept and the fairways punish a wayward shot without being unfair about it. Spring and autumn are your best bets weatherwise - summer gets warm up here, and winter can turn boggy fast.

If you're based at Lydford Caravan & Camping Park, which is barely six miles away, this makes a natural half-day during a wider Devon holiday. The course sits in that sweet spot where locals know it well enough to keep standards up, but it never gets so rammed that you're queuing between shots. Contact them direct for green fees and booking - they're usually reasonable for non-members.

Most useful if you're a keen player. Casual golfers might find Tavistock's other attractions - the old abbey, the town itself - better use of holiday time. Families without golf interest will be bored within twenty minutes.