Carden Park Golf Club

You'll find two championship courses set across 300 acres of Cheshire countryside, just outside Chester. Carden Park is serious golf - the main course plays to over 7,000 yards, and they've got a proper second layout too, so there's genuine choice depending on your handicap and how much punishment you fancy.

This is 100% for golfers. Families without clubs won't find much to do here, and you'd need to book ahead to play. Green fees aren't cheap - you're looking at proper private club money - but the courses are well-maintained and the setting beats a lot of inland tracks. Allow a full day if you're playing 18 holes, or four to five hours minimum.

The routing is clever. You get parkland feel with water hazards that actually come into play, and the rough is thick enough that wayward shots punish you properly. It's not a links course, so winter's playable when coastal tracks get waterlogged. Spring is probably your best bet though - firm ground and decent length.

If you're staying at one of the nearby parks - Manor Wood is closest at just 1.4 miles - Carden makes a solid day out for the golfer in your group while others explore Chester's medieval streets and River Dee. The club has a decent restaurant and bar, so you're not stranded in the middle of nowhere. Book in advance and check their membership options if you're thinking multiple rounds.