Forest Golf Club

Forest Golf Club sits just outside Coleford in the heart of Gloucestershire's forest country, a proper working golf course rather than a tourist attraction. If you're staying at one of the nearby campsites - Greenacres, Bracelands, or Whitemead Forest Park are all within a couple of miles - and you've got a handicap card in your bag, this is your local play. The course takes you through woodland, which is exactly what you'd expect in this part of the world. It's the sort of place where golfers come to actually golf, not to gawp at views or tick off a sightseeing box.

Non-golfers will find bugger all to do here, to be honest. This isn't a visitor centre or a driving range with a cafe - it's a members' club with a course to play. You'll need to arrange a round in advance, and green fees apply, though I can't find the current rates online, so ring ahead before you drive over.

The real value comes if you're a golfer breaking up a forest holiday. Coleford itself is surrounded by walking trails and proper forest scenery, so you could easily spend a morning on the course and an afternoon hiking the surrounding woodland. It's about thirty miles from Ross-on-Wye if you're planning a broader Wye Valley trip. Allow three to four hours for a round, depending on how good you are.

Worth the detour? Only if you play. Otherwise, stick to the forest walks.