Viking Golf

Just outside Southport, Viking Golf is an 18-hole pitch and putt course that's been around long enough to feel properly established without being stuffy about it. It's the sort of place where you can rock up with the kids, work through a quick round in under two hours, and actually enjoy it without needing to be a golfer. The course itself is straightforward - no mad elevation changes or tricks designed to humiliate you - which means families tend to have a genuinely decent time here rather than frustrating themselves into silence.

The layout winds through accessible terrain, and because it's pitch and putt rather than a full 18-hole course, you're not trudging four miles to finish. That's precisely why it works for holiday makers. If you're based at one of the nearby parks - Southport Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite is barely half a mile away, or you could go further afield to Leisure Lakes or Riverside - you can slot a round in without derailing your day. Kids who'd rather die than sit through a proper golf course? They'll actually play this one.

Best visited mid-morning when it's least busy. Bring your own clubs or hire on-site if you haven't packed them. Admission and exact hours weren't confirmed at time of writing, so ring ahead before you turn up. It's not Southport's flashy attraction, but it's a solid, low-stress activity if your lot fancies whacking a ball about on holiday.