St Patrick's Golf Club

The 18-hole course sits on the outskirts of Downpatrick, and it's a proper test of golf if you know what you're doing. Rolling parkland layout with enough trees and water hazards to keep you honest - not one of those flat, easy runs you find down south. You'll get views across County Down from the higher holes, which makes a change from staring at the same stretch of fairway for hours.

This is clearly a members' club first and foremost, so ring ahead before you pitch up expecting a casual round. If you can get on, allow a good four and a half hours minimum - the course plays long and the rough punishes loose shots. Golfers who enjoy a bit of resistance will rate it. Beginners might find themselves fishing balls out of ditches more often than they'd like.

The setting suits a golf-focused break from one of the nearby caravan parks - Buckshill is closest at 2.4 miles, or Delamont if you want country park facilities alongside your accommodation. Downpatrick itself has enough pubs and a decent restaurant scene to justify an evening out after your round. Worth checking their website or ringing direct about green fees and availability, especially during peak season. It's not the flashy resort experience you might find elsewhere in Northern Ireland, but if you're after a genuine, challenging round in decent countryside, it delivers.