Ineos Golf Club

The drive into Shildon takes you past terraced houses and industrial heritage before you spot the fairways - Ineos Golf Club sits proper out on the edge of town, eighteen holes carved through what feels like the real North East rather than some manicured resort course. This is a working members' club first and foremost, so it's worth ringing ahead if you're not a golfer already, but if you've got a handicap or fancy a round, the course itself is straightforward and well-kept, nothing fancy but honest turf and decent greens.

For golfers planning a park holiday in County Durham, this works well. The course sits close enough to Eden Grange Glamping that you could base yourself there and play a round before heading back to your accommodation - a proper pairing for anyone who wants their holiday with a side of golf rather than golf being the whole trip. A decent walk would take you the hour or so needed, though most will drive.

Historically, Shildon's the heart of railway engineering around these parts, so if you're mixing golf with a bit of industrial history tourism, you're in the right area. The course itself won't blow your mind with drama or difficulty, but that's fine - it's solid, local, and lets you spend a morning doing what you've come for without faffing about. Check their website before you go, membership rules can be strict about visitors.