Shaw Hill Golf Club

Shaw Hill sits on the outskirts of Leyland, a proper championship-standard course that's been going since 1990. It's the sort of place where serious golfers come to test themselves against a genuinely challenging layout - tree-lined fairways, strategic bunkering, and greens that demand respect. The course plays to over 6,800 yards from the back tees, so this isn't a beginner's pitch.

If you're a golfer staying at Royal Umpire Caravan Park nearby, this is worth booking ahead for. Non-members can play here as day visitors, though you'll want to ring ahead first to check availability and get current green fees sorted. A round takes the usual four hours or so, which makes it a solid half-day activity during a park break. The clubhouse has decent facilities - bar, restaurant, pro shop - so you can hang about afterwards without feeling rushed.

Family golfers might find the full championship course intimidating, but Shaw Hill does offer shorter options depending on your handicap, and the staff are generally decent about welcoming visitors. Bring your own clubs or rent on-site. The course gets busy at weekends, so weekday mornings are your best bet for a relaxed game.

It's not the most dramatic setting in Lancashire - flat terrain, nothing like the drama you'd get further north - but the conditioning is solid and the challenge is genuine. Worth the detour if golf's actually your thing, less so if you're just looking for something to do between the caravan park attractions.