Warkworth Golf Club

The clubhouse sits on the edge of Alnwick with proper views across the Northumberland coast. Warkworth is an 18-hole course that doesn't make a fuss about itself - no fancy modernism, just solid golf in the kind of place where the weather matters more than the membership fees.

You're looking at a traditional links-influenced layout where the wind off the North Sea keeps you honest. It's the sort of course where you can hack away for a morning without feeling like you've wandered into a corporate away day. The greens are tight and the rough punishes you, which is exactly how it should be. Most rounds take under four hours if you're not a beginner.

Golfers will get the most out of this - obviously - but it's not one of those intimidating private clubs that makes you ring ahead in a state of panic. The real selling point is the location. You're minutes from Alnwick's castle and town centre, which means families can do the tourist bits while one adult sneaks off for eighteen holes. Woodland Chase Glamping sits just five miles away, so it works perfectly for a multi-activity break.

Membership rates and green fees aren't listed on their site, so ring ahead on the number there. Best to visit during the warmer months when you can actually enjoy standing about between shots. Winter play is possible but you'll be squelching through mud half the time.