Sandburn Hall

Sandburn Hall's golf course sits just outside York, a proper championship-standard layout that demands respect from anyone with a handicap and welcomes relative newcomers too. The course itself spans 18 holes across parkland that feels genuinely peaceful - you won't feel hemmed in by housing or hear much beyond birdsong and the occasional crack of a well-struck shot.

It's undeniably a golfer's day out rather than a family attraction. If you're not swinging clubs, there's not much to do here, though the clubhouse offers decent food and the grounds are pleasant enough for a stroll if someone in your party fancies fresh air while others play. Allow a full morning or afternoon for a round, depending on how quick your group moves.

You'll need to check their website for membership options and visitor rates - they do take visitors, but it's not a pay-and-play setup. Getting a tee time in advance is sensible, especially weekends.

If you're basing yourself at Bugthorpe Grange Glamping nearby, this makes for a solid morning or afternoon activity without a long drive. York itself is close enough for lunch or a wander around the walls afterwards, so it slots neatly into a wider break rather than being a standalone destination. The real draw is the course quality and the chance to play somewhere with proper maintenance and challenge.