Prestwick Putting

An 18-hole putting course squeezed into South Ayrshire's landscape - the kind of place that looks modest from the car park but keeps families occupied for a solid hour. The greens are well-maintained, the holes genuinely demanding enough that grown-ups don't breeze through it, and there's something satisfying about properly lining up a putt rather than just whacking a ball at a windmill.

Kids aged five upwards will get something from it. Younger ones might lose interest by hole twelve, but if you've got a competitive bunch or a teenager who actually wants to spend time with you, this delivers. The courses winds round properly rather than feeling cramped, which matters when you're trying to keep score.

It's the kind of activity that works brilliantly as a filler between bigger days out - after a morning at one of the nearby attractions or between lunch and an afternoon walk. Haven Craig Tara is close enough that you could slot this in mid-holiday without much faffing about with the car.

Bring your own putters if you have them, or hire on-site. Expect to pay a modest fee per person - nothing extortionate. Go when it's dry because the greens play differently when damp, and avoid peak summer afternoons when school groups take over. It's not going to be the highlight of your trip, but it's a proper little winner for what it is.