Malkins Bank Golf Course

An 18-hole course just outside Sandbach that sits quietly on the Cheshire landscape without fuss or pretence. Malkins Bank is the sort of place golfers discover by accident and then keep coming back to - not because it's fancy, but because it's genuinely good to play.

The course itself flows across fairly open terrain with decent greens and enough variety to keep you thinking. It's not brutally difficult, which means it works well for club players trying to improve their handicap without spending the day frustrated. You'll walk it in around four hours, and the pace tends to be reasonable even at weekends.

If you're staying at Yellowstone just down the road - that's less than three miles away - you could absolutely fit a round in around your camping trip. Same goes for Oakwood a bit further out. Families with non-golfing members might find this less useful than an attraction park, but if anyone in your group plays, it's a proper local option worth booking ahead for.

The course doesn't demand a vast skill level, so it'll suit improvers and social golfers more than single-figure handicappers hunting a challenge. Go on a weekday if you want a quieter round, though you'll want to ring ahead and confirm current rates and tee times - the details on opening hours and fees aren't straightforward online.