Five Lakes

Five Lakes near Southminster is a serious 36-hole golf destination spread across 250 acres of Essex countryside. Two championship courses - the Lakes Course and the Gainsborough - draw golfers from all over, though you'll find the standard of play here genuinely challenging rather than clubby or intimidating.

The courses wind through mature woodland and proper manicured fairways. Water features dominate the design, which sounds dramatic until you're standing on the tee and realise you've got to clear a lake to get anywhere. It's not theatrical - it's functional, and harder than it looks. The Gainsborough in particular demands respect from mid-to-low handicappers.

Golfers will get the most from this. Non-golfers shouldn't bother making the trip specifically. Allow a full four hours minimum for a round, longer if you're not a quick player. The on-site hotel and restaurant setup means you can make a proper day of it, which beats driving back and forth.

If you're staying at Eastland Meadows Country Park six miles west, Five Lakes makes a solid morning or afternoon outing, though you're really coming here for the golf rather than to soak up an aesthetic. It's functional, well-maintained, and genuinely tough - which is exactly what serious golfers want. Casual weekend players might find it a bit much. Worth the drive if you're mid-handicap and looking for a proper test.