Puttstars Rochdale

Miniature golf courses tend to divide opinion, but Puttstars in Rochdale actually delivers something worth stopping for if you're staying nearby in Bury. The course is properly laid out - not just a glorified carpet with a few obstacles - and the theming suggests someone's put thought into the design rather than just plonking obstacles down willy-nilly.

You're looking at an hour, maybe ninety minutes if you're taking it seriously or the place is rammed. Families with kids aged six upwards will get the most mileage out of it, though teenagers often find it either brilliant or beneath them depending on their mood. Adults dragged along by children may actually enjoy themselves, which is the real test.

The practical stuff: check their website before you go for current pricing and hours, as these places shift their times with the seasons. It's the sort of activity that works as a rainy-afternoon filler or a break from the caravan if you're based at Burrs Country Park six miles away - decent spot for a weekend, that one. Worth noting it's not free, so factor in a tenner or so per person.

Rochdale itself isn't a destination on its own merits, but if you're exploring Lancashire or using Bury as your base, Puttstars beats sitting in a café moaning about the weather. Go early on a weekday if you can. Weekend crowds can turn a pleasant hour into a shuffling nightmare.