Tree Top Adventure Golf

You're squinting at a putt up a miniature fairway lined with plastic trees - hence the name, I suppose - somewhere near Stanley in Tyne and Wear. Tree Top Adventure Golf is exactly what it sounds like: an indoor or covered mini golf setup with a bit of theming thrown in to justify the "tree top" branding.

It's the sort of place that works brilliantly on a rainy afternoon when you've got restless kids or a group of mates after something daft and competitive. The courses are straightforward enough that even terrible golfers won't spend three hours on nine holes, but there's enough of a challenge to keep it from feeling patronising. Expect the usual jumps, tunnels, and obstacles - nothing revolutionary, but decent enough to pass a couple of hours.

You'll need to ring ahead or check their website for current opening hours and admission fees, as details are thin on the ground. Allow an hour to ninety minutes if you're doing both courses without rushing.

If you're staying at Beamish Holiday Park or the excellent Beamish Glamping nearby, this fits nicely into a rainy-day plan alongside a visit to Beamish Museum itself. It's not a destination in its own right - more a useful filler activity when the weather's turned. Worth knowing about if you've got a block of time to fill, but don't build your trip around it.