Lydney Golf Club

Lydney Golf Club sits on the edge of this small Gloucestershire town, a proper 18-hole course that's been part of the local landscape for decades. If you're a golfer staying at one of the nearby parks - Deanwood or Whitemead Forest Park are just a couple of miles away - this is exactly the sort of spot you'd want to find. The course itself rolls through decent woodland, nothing spectacular by championship standards, but honest, playable golf with enough variation to keep you interested for a round.

It's a members' club primarily, which means public play depends on their guest policy - you'll need to phone ahead or check whether you can book as a visitor. Green fees aren't extortionate for a course of this calibre, though you should budget a few hours plus refreshments in the clubhouse if they allow non-members through. The real appeal here isn't that it's a standout course - it's that it's there, accessible from the caravan parks dotted around the Forest of Dean area, and gives golfers something to do beyond the walks and attractions the wider region offers.

Non-golfers won't find much reason to visit, frankly. You're looking at a members' clubhouse and fairways - that's it. But if you've got a golf-keen member of your group and you're camped nearby, it's a convenient option that beats the drive to somewhere fancier.