Heythrop Park Golf

The course sits on the grounds of a grand Oxfordshire estate, all rolling fairways and proper English countryside views. Heythrop Park Golf is an 18-hole layout that demands respect - it's not a par-3 pitch-and-putt, but a proper test of golf if you've got the handicap for it. The setting alone makes it worth the drive from Chipping Norton, even if the greens fees bite.

Golfers will get the most from this one, obviously. It's not a casual family pitch where the kids can have a bash - you'll want to be a member or book well ahead if you're a visitor. The course winds through mature trees and open sections, typical of the better Cotswolds clubs. Expect to spend four hours minimum, longer if the course is busy.

Where it fits into a park-based holiday depends on your group. If you're camping at Cotswold Hills Country Park or the Chipping Norton Club Site (both just a few miles away), and you've got at least one keen golfer in the group, it's a solid morning or afternoon option while others might explore the market town. The Cotswolds aren't short of walking routes and villages, so non-golfing family members won't suffer while you're on the back nine.

Check their website for current green fees and whether you need a handicap certificate - rules vary by club. Spring and autumn are best; summer can get bogged down with weekend players.