The North

From the fine Open Championship links of the west to the grand golf hotels in the east and much more, northern England has it all

- Jeremy Ellwood

Travel beyond the major conurbations of Lancashire and Yorkshire and the north of England generally becomes more sparsely populated and, arguably, more beautiful. There’s no shortage of fine and hugely enjoyable golf of all kinds in Cheshire, Lancashire and Cumbria in the west and throughout Yorkshire, County Durham and Northumberland in the east.

The Lancashire and Merseyside coastlines are home to some of England’s greatest links, including the three Royal Open venues at Liverpool, Birkdale and Lytham & St Annes, ably supported by Hillside, West Lancs, Wallasey and several others from The Wirral up to Blackpool. In north-west Cumbria, Silloth is often lauded as our best-value Top 100 course, while some of the county’s inland courses enjoy views to die for. Down in Cheshire, the heathland course at Delamere Forest is the headline act for many.

The east may not quite have the high-profile seaside golf of the west, but few come away from Bamburgh Castle, Dunstanburgh Castle or Goswick in Northumberland without a smile on their faces. Further south, Seaton Carew, near Hartlepool in County Durham, has both a big reputation and 22 holes to play.