Head west and you’ll find spectacular landscapes for golf and some of GB&I’s best courses
Silloth on Solway Golf Club
The star attraction of the Cumbrian coast, the links layout at Silloth on Solway Golf Club makes stunning use of the natural terrain to present one of England’s finest courses. Designed in 1892 by David Grant and developed by a number of architects throughout its history, including Dr Alister MacKenzie and Willie Park Jnr, the course is framed by sand dunes strewn with gorse. Ranked 46th best in GB&I and 18th best in England by Top100golfcourses.com – this is a must-visit for any golfer for the views across the Firth, the sunken dell greens, and the challenging bunkers.
Silloth on Solway Golf Club, Station Road, Silloth, CA7 4AE, tel 016973 31304, www.sillothgolfclub.co.uk
Appleby Golf Club
The golf course at Appleby is situated just off the A66 and was designed by Open champion Willie Fernie. It features dramatic shapes and undulations throughout its 5,986 yards, with heather and bracken creating a real test of accuracy. The course sits atop sandstone, which creates firm conditions and keeps the course playable year-round – a rare trait in the land of the lakes! The signature 15th was voted 98th in GB&I’s best golf holes and its features include Hilton Beck, the out of bounds fence, and a concealed green.
Appleby Golf Club, Brackenber Moor, Appleby, CA16 6LP, tel 017683 51432, www.applebygolfclub.co.uk
Brampton Golf Club
Brampton features panoramic views of the Lake District mountains, the North Pennines and the Southern Uplands of South West Scotland. One of the region’s best heathland courses, and close to the Northumberland border, the layout was designed by five-time Open champion James Braid and today measures 6,418 yards from the back tees. The club was included in Golf World’s Top 100 £65 & Under GB&I 2023 list and the panoramic views from the clubhouse, which include the par three first hole, are stunning. The first is one of nine holes on the clubhouse side of the road, while the other side features the more rugged, quirky and spectacular holes. The eighth is the stand-out hole with its elevated tee offering views for miles around and a great look at the short par four. Meanwhile, the glacial lake of Talkin Tarn provides a beautiful backdrop to a number of holes.
Brampton Golf Club, Tarn Road, Brampton, CA8 1HN, tel 016977 2255, www.bramptongolfclub.com
Seascale Golf Club
Situated on the west coast of Cumbria, five miles south of Whitehaven, the links of Seascale are a delight in calm conditions and an exacting test when the wind blows in from the Irish Sea. Founded in 1893, the course was designed by Willie Campbell and George Lowe, and remains a traditional English links test with spectacular views of the Isle of Man and Scotland to the west, and the mountains of the Lake District to the east. The tee shot at the ninth, played towards the sea, is a real highlight of every round. A regular in top-100 lists and ranked among the world’s best links courses, those who haven’t visited Seascale before should add this to their list of courses to play as soon as possible. Those who have visited before know the challenge, and will undoubtedly be keen to tackle it again.
Seascale Golf Club, The Banks, Seascale, CA20 1QL, tel 01946 728 202, www.seascalegolfclub.co.uk
Calder House Hotel
Just metres from the links of Seascale, the Calder House Hotel offers a warm Cumbrian welcome, a cracking breakfast, and stunning views from a number of bedrooms as well as the bar and restaurant. The beer garden is a wonderful spot to share stories from your rounds in the summertime, plus there’s free parking and wi-fi. A range of en-suite rooms are available, and golfers are made incredibly welcome on every visit.
Calder House Hotel, The Banks, Seascale, CA20 1QP, tel 01946 728 538, www.calderhouse.co.uk
