Little Lakes

Little Lakes sits just outside Bewdley in Shropshire, a nine-hole golf course that punches well above its weight for a smaller setup. The layout winds through woodland with water hazards that genuinely come into play - you'll lose balls here if you're not careful, which is rather the point. It's proper countryside golf, the kind where you might spot a deer on the fairway and genuinely won't mind if you do.

This is one for golfers who want a relaxed round without the formality of a full championship course. Beginners won't feel out of place, and families with older kids who've got some swing technique can make a morning of it. The nine holes take about an hour and a half to play through, so you're not committing your entire day. It's the sort of spot where you pop in mid-week if you're staying at one of the nearby holiday parks - Lodge Coppice or Bank Farm are within spitting distance - and knock off nine holes before lunch.

I'd ring ahead to check current opening hours and green fees, as smaller courses sometimes shift with the seasons. There's something quite nice about a quick nine rather than the full eighteen when you're on holiday - you get the golf fix without the exhaustion. Head here on a quieter morning and you'll have the course practically to yourself.