Slaley Hall Stay And Play Review

Jeremy Ellwood returns to Q Hotels’ beautiful Northumberland resort

Slaley Hall Stay And Play Review

Hunting course: par 72, 6,850 yards; Priestman course: par 72, 6,597 yards

Greenfee: £110 per round

Since my last visit they have switched the nines around on the Hunting course, which has a moorland feel in places, with beautiful azaleas and rhododendrons lining other fairways.

This makes good sense, for although the 1st is now steeply uphill, it is not overly long, and the two par 5s that follow let you open your shoulders more than on the early holes of the back nine.

It also means that the final hole is now one of the best on the course, a testing long par 4 that plays gently back up to a raised green.

There’s water to contend with near the end, too – left of the par-4 14th and then on the long par-3 15th – before three suitably stout par 4s to close things out.

The sister Priestman course allows a little more room to manoeuvre.

Also Play... Northumberland GC (thengc.co.uk), laid out inside and around Newcastle Racecourse, lies just half an hour to the east.

The Hotel

This tastefully extended Edwardian mansion was transformed into a fine golf hotel in the 1980s and enjoys a secluded location just south of Corbridge amid majestic countryside.

It boasts 141 spacious rooms, including nine suites or double superior rooms in both the old and new parts of the hotel.

You can upgrade to the beautiful VIQ rooms for just £45 a night, where you’ll enjoy a complimentary mini bar and other extras.

Luxury Lodges are also available. Dining options include the Edwardian elegance of the Duke’s Grill, the informality of Hadrian’s Brasserie and the excellent Claret Jug, where you can sit outside and watch the action on the 10th tee and 18th green.

The excellent health club features a well-equipped gym, a heated swimming pool and a soothing sauna, while the spa offers a wide range of treatments.

Where else… This is Hadrian’s Wall country (hadrianswallcountry.co.uk), with many places steeped in Roman history to visit close by.

Best Deal

One-night breaks including two rounds of golf (18 holes on each course), dinner, bed and breakfast plus 20 per cent off drinks in the Claret Jug start from £99pp.

Where

Head south on the A68 from the A69 close to Corbridge and look out for the Slaley Hall signs.

Checklist

Green fee: £110 Hunting, £65 Priestman Buggy hire: £35 per round Trolley hire: £5 per round Power trolley hire: £15 per round Club hire: £45 per round (Titleist AP1, AP2 or AP3) Driving range: From £1 for 15 balls Putting green: Yes Short-game/bunker area: Yes Pro shop: Yes, large shop Changing rooms: Yes Sky TV: Yes, in Claret Jug and certain bedrooms Wi-Fi: Yes, free throughout Price of a pint: From £4.25

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