Styal Golf Club

Eighteen holes carved through Cheshire countryside, Styal Golf Club sits just outside Macclesfield and delivers a proper test without the stuffiness of older courses. The layout winds through wooded terrain with enough water hazards to keep you honest - it's scenic rather than brutally difficult, which suits most handicaps well enough.

Golfers are the obvious audience here, but specifically those who want something more forgiving than championship-standard greens. The course has character - mature trees frame most holes, and there's a genuine sense of playing somewhere with history. You're looking at a full round taking four hours or so, depending on pace.

Access requires membership or guest play through an existing member, which is standard for clubs of this type. It's not a pay-as-you-play operation, so phone ahead to check if you can arrange a game before arriving. The facilities are decent without being over-the-top.

For caravan folk staying at nearby Sycamore Farm - just five miles away - this works as a halfway-through-the-week activity rather than the main event. The surrounding area has better walking and family attractions, so golfers should treat it as their specialist interest rather than a draw on its own. If you're staying locally and have a handicap certificate, it's absolutely worth sorting out a round. If you don't play golf, look elsewhere.