Tuesday, June 04, 2019

A visit to Sunderland. In Lancashire

Making a journey to the village of Sunderland.



We never expected to be visiting Sunderland while on the other side of the country

Our adventures around the UK began back in 2006 when we got our first car and set about visiting as many seasides as possible. This segued into what has become our mammoth mission to visit every miniature golf course in the British Isles (and beyond).


Searching out minigolf courses has seen us visit so many out of the way and interesting places we would likely never have otherwise been to. Our latest trip to the Lancashire and Cumbria coast was no different.


As we left Lancaster we spotted a place called Sunderland on the map and as we've also been to the 'real' one we thought we'd take a look at what the Lancashire version had to offer.


The village of Sunderland lies at the tip of a marshy peninsula and is only accessible by a somewhat treacherous single-track road. Or boat.

The sort of warning sign you always want to see

Road to Sunderland Point
This was the road into Sunderland Point. There is no way you'd ever reach the National Speed Limit on the track!

Road to Sunderland Point
And another warning sign part way along the route

Sunderland Point is a unique place, as it is home to the only community on the UK mainland that is dependent upon tidal access!

The road to Sunderland Point
The tide was out

The road to Sunderland Point
We kept a careful eye out to make sure we didn't get stranded

It was nice to visit Sunderland Point and on our drive to the village we didn't have to use any of the 'passing points'. However, on our return trip we had to reverse a fair distance to allow another car to pass. An interesting drive to say the least.

Sunderland Point
The road out of Sunderland Point

At Sunderland Point
Another beach visited on our seaside travels

Some interesting info and warnings on a sign at Sunderland Point
Some interesting info and warnings on a sign at Sunderland Point 

Public toilets at Sunderland Point
These conveniences were a welcome sight after the somewhat terrifying drive to the village

The view from Sunderland Point
The view from Sunderland Point
  
Sunderland Point in Lancashire
We left Sunderland Point before any water got anywhere near the High Water Level mark

On our travels we've found A.N. Other versions of a number of towns/islands/states/countries! We've also been to the Isle of Wight and Ireland (in Bedfordshire), Egypt (in Buckinghamshire), Oxford (in Northumberland), New England (in Essex), Canada (in the New Forest) and a pair of Lutons (in Kent and Devon).

Are there any other doppelganger places you'd recommend for us to visit?

Gizmo's Pizzeria in Morecambe

While walking along the promenade in Morecambe my bootleg senses began tingling and out of the corner of my eye I spotted the very busy Gizmo's Pizzeria!

Gizmo's Pizzeria in Morecambe
Gizmo's Pizzeria in Morecambe

Gizmo's Pizzeria in Morecambe
Gizmo's is open from 4pm to late - I hope it closes before midnight 

Related blog posts:
Bootlegs
Takeaways
Pizza
- Morecambe

Four years ago today we visited our 600th minigolf course in the UK!

Reaching a landmark on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.


Goodrington Sands Crazy Golf course in Devon
The Goodrington Sands Crazy Golf course in Devon

The Crazy Golf course in Goodrington Sands, Devon was the 600th course visited and the 370th we had played up until that point. A large number of courses we visit on our travels tend to be closed, derelict, abandoned or out-of-season.


Goodrington Sands Crazy Golf course in Devon
Playing the Crazy Golf course in Goodrington Sands

Goodrington Sands Crazy Golf course in Devon
Emily playing the Goodrington Sands Crazy Golf course

We visited a total of 62 miniature golf courses during our brilliant two-week holiday around the coast of South West England in the summer of 2015.

Goodrington Sands Crazy Golf course in Devon
At Goodrington Sands

The 600th course visited overall on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour was the Jurassic Golf course at Santa-Fe Adventure Park in Swanage, Dorset on Sunday 31st May 2015.

Jurassic Adventure Golf in Swanage
At minigolf course visit 600 in Swanage, Dorset

When our travels began in September 2006 there were around 600 courses in the UK. We've now been to 895 minigolf courses, including 39 overseas, and there are still a fair few for us to visit.

Course visit number 900 is getting very very close!

Jungle Safari Adventure Golf at Ravenmeadow Golf Centre in Worcester

Playing the Jungle Safari Adventure Golf course at the Ravenmeadow Golf Centre in Worcester.


Jungle Safari Adventure Golf at Ravenmeadow Golf Centre in Worcester

Our recent trip to Southampton saw us visit 18 more courses, playing eight of them. One of the courses we had a round on was the Jungle Safari Adventure Golf course at the Ravenmeadow Golf Centre in Worcester.


Jungle Safari Adventure Golf at Ravenmeadow Golf Centre in Worcester

The 18-hole course was the 868th visited and 509th played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.


Jungle Safari Adventure Golf at Ravenmeadow Golf Centre in Worcester

We visited on a drizzly Friday lunchtime in May, so were lucky to have the course to ourselves.

Jungle Safari Adventure Golf at Ravenmeadow Golf Centre in Worcester

We enjoyed our round on the large miniature golf layout. Some of the holes are very long, with wide greens.

Jungle Safari Adventure Golf at Ravenmeadow Golf Centre in Worcester

In our minigolf match on the Jungle Safari Adventure Golf course I won with a score of 45 to Emily's 50.

Jungle Safari Adventure Golf at Ravenmeadow Golf Centre in Worcester

Jungle Safari Adventure Golf at Ravenmeadow Golf Centre in Worcester

Jungle Safari Adventure Golf at Ravenmeadow Golf Centre in Worcester
I managed to get my nose ahead in my minigolf game against Emily

Jungle Safari Adventure Golf at Ravenmeadow Golf Centre in Worcester

Jungle Safari Adventure Golf at Ravenmeadow Golf Centre in Worcester

Jungle Safari Adventure Golf at Ravenmeadow Golf Centre in Worcester

Jungle Safari Adventure Golf at Ravenmeadow Golf Centre in Worcester

Jungle Safari Adventure Golf at Ravenmeadow Golf Centre in Worcester
What does that sign say?

Jungle Safari Adventure Golf at Ravenmeadow Golf Centre in Worcester

Jungle Safari Adventure Golf at Ravenmeadow Golf Centre in Worcester

Jungle Safari Adventure Golf at Ravenmeadow Golf Centre in Worcester

Jungle Safari Adventure Golf at Ravenmeadow Golf Centre in Worcester

Visit the Jungle Safari Adventure Golf course website for more information, opening times and prices.



Monday, June 03, 2019

Rampside Golf Links in Barrow-in-Furness

A visit to the Rampside Golf Links in Barrow-in-Furness.



Rampside Golf Links in Barrow-in-Furness

While driving home from a trip to Barrow-in-Furness we spotted the Rampside Golf Links - home to a Par-3 course and a 4-hole Putting area.

Rampside Golf Links in Barrow-in-Furness

Rampside Golf Links in Barrow-in-Furness

Related blog posts:
- Barrow-in-Furness

Mini Golf at Queens Park in Crewe

A visit to the Mini Golf course at Queens Park in Crewe.


Mini Golf course at Queens Park in Crewe

On Saturday 25th May we headed down the road for a day out in Crewe. When we decided to visit Crewe we hadn't expected to go to any minigolf courses, but Emily had spotted the Mini Golf course at Queens Park in Crewe and then I found out about the Crazy Golf course at Malkins Bank Golf Club in Sandbach in a follow-up search.

Mini Golf course at Queens Park in Crewe

The Mini Golf course at Queens Park in Crewe became the 890th visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Mini Golf course at Queens Park in Crewe

We've seen similar courses on our travels. Four years ago today we played a course like it at The Imperial Hotel in Torquay and on Saturday we played a layout at Greenlands Farm Village in Carnforth that had a resemblance to it.

Mini Golf course at Queens Park in Crewe
The course at the Pier Head in Liverpool and at the Lake District Visitor Centre in Brockhole, Cumbria looked quite similar to the Queens Park layout  
 
Mini Golf course at Queens Park in Crewe

Mini Golf course at Queens Park in Crewe

Mini Golf course at Queens Park in Crewe

Mini Golf course at Queens Park in Crewe
   
Mini Golf course at Queens Park in Crewe


Mini Golf course at Queens Park in Crewe

Queens Park in Crewe is also home to a number of other activities and was a nice place for a wander. We also spotted a Petanque Terrain there.

Petanque at Queens Park in Crewe
It's always nice to see a place to play Boules

We've now visited 895 courses on our travels since September 2006.

Mini Golf at Queens Park in Crewe
Another minigolf course visited on our crazy golf adventures

Adventure Mini Golf at Greenlands Farm Village in Tewitfield, Carnforth

Playing the Adventure Mini Golf course at Greenlands Farm Village in Tewitfield, Carnforth.


Farmyard Adventure Mini Golf course at Greenlands Farm Village in Tewitfield, Carnforth

During our weekend away we visited five more courses on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. One of them was the Farmyard Adventure Mini Golf course at Greenlands Farm Village in Tewitfield, Carnforth.



Farmyard Adventure Mini Golf course at Greenlands Farm Village in Tewitfield, Carnforth

The 9-hole layout became the 519th course played and 892nd we've visited.


Farmyard Adventure Mini Golf course at Greenlands Farm Village in Tewitfield, Carnforth

In our minigolf match-up Emily won with a 20 to 22 scoreline.

Farmyard Adventure Mini Golf course at Greenlands Farm Village in Tewitfield, Carnforth
Emily was the little piggy in our match

Visit the Greenlands Farm Village website for more information, opening times and prices.



Videos of the 9-hole Farmyard Adventure Mini Golf course.



















We've now visited 895 minigolf courses since our travels began in September 2006.

Course number 900 isn't far off. Where will it be...?

New Adventure Golf at Clarke's Golf Centre in Rainford, St Helens

New Adventure Golf course opening at Clarke's Golf Centre in Rainford, St Helens.


New Adventure Golf at Clarke's Golf Centre in Rainford, St Helens

A new 18-hole Adventure Golf course is opening soon at Clarke's Golf Centre in Rainford, St Helens.


It's another course that is fairly local to us. We're looking forward to a visit on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

The new Adventure Golf course is due to open later this month. For more information visit the Clarke's Golf Centre website.