1 Night, 2 Rounds
Set in 350 acres of County Durham countryside, Ramside Hall Hotel, Golf & Spa is one of the county's best-rated AA four-star hotels, and once you're on site it's easy to see why. The hotel began life as the Pemberton family estate before becoming a hotel in 1963, and today it's the region's largest privately owned luxury property, known for friendly service and good value for golfers.
For a hassle-free break, everything is in one place. You've got two 18-hole championship courses on the estate, plus award-winning gardens, a full-service spa and several dining options, so you can keep the group together without planning a taxi schedule. It works just as well for a society weekend as it does for a couple looking to mix a few rounds with spa time.
What's great about Ramside is that it feels smart without being stiff. You can play, eat and unwind at your own pace, whether that means a post-round burger in the clubhouse or making an evening of it in the hotel restaurants. The property also picked up Your Golf Travel's Best Hotel UK & Ireland 2024, based on customer votes, which backs up the 'looked-after' feeling on site.
Who is this for?
Golfers who want an easy UK stay-and-play base near Durham, with two on-site courses and enough food, drink and spa options to keep a mixed group happy.
Who is it best for?
Societies and groups who value convenience over travel between courses, couples pairing golf with spa time and mid-handicap golfers looking for variety across 36 holes.
* Where applicable, the relevant promotions will be applied during the booking process. T&Cs may apply.
1 Night, 1 Round
1 Night, 2 Rounds
1 Night, 2 Rounds
2 Nights, 2 Rounds
2 Nights, 3 Rounds
2 Nights, 3 Rounds
The course has spirit of adventure and features 16 water hazards, reachable par 5’s, driveable par 4’s, and short holes that demand shot-making skills from wedge to woods.
Designer Jonathan Gaunt laid out a golf course that delivers risk and reward golf at its best. Water comes into play on 10 holes and there are nine doglegs on the card which demand good strategy and the ability to move the ball both ways if you are to score at your lowest.
The course is fair. The fairways are wide and generous and there is a conservative option available on every hole so that any standard of golfer can enjoy Ramside’s challenge.
| Par | 72 |
|---|---|
| Designed by | Jonathan Gaunt |
| Opened for play | 1996 |
| Blue | 6,851 yards |
|---|---|
| White | 6,520 yards |
| Yellow | 6,240 yards |
| Red | 5,610 yards |
The Cathedral Course has been built on rolling countryside between the villages of Belmont and Pittington with breath-taking natural features including ridges, becks and valleys.
The course extends out over a broad hilltop with views of Durham Cathedral and as far afield as the Angel of the North in Gateshead, before dropping down into a valley and rising up again to return to the parkland estate where its closing holes end back at the clubhouse and hotel.
The middle holes are laid out across a high plateau, previously called ‘Hilltop Farm’ - with wide-open skies and 360 views - then drop down into a striking valley with dramatic elevation changes, mature trees, steep banksides and a coursing beck.
| Par | 72 |
|---|---|
| Designed by | Jonathan Gaunt |
| Opened for play | 2014 |
| Blue | 7,176 yards |
|---|---|
| White | 6,876 yards |
| Yellow | 6,558 yards |
| Red | 5,690 yards |
Ramside Hall has 127 rooms and suites, so there's a good spread of options whether you're coming as a couple, a fourball or a larger society. Standard rooms, Classic and Deluxe, cover the essentials for a golf weekend, while Premier rooms step things up if you want more space to spread kit out and properly switch off between rounds.
If you're celebrating or simply fancy turning the dial up, there are Junior, Presidential and Celebration Suites, which suit golfers who want extra living space for pre-dinner drinks or a quieter base away from the busier parts of the hotel.
For guests who prefer more privacy, The Farmhouse is the most self-contained option and works well for small groups who want to stay together. The Studio and Loft Suites are a strong choice for couples, giving you a more tucked-away feel while keeping you close to the main facilities. If you're booking for a bigger group and want something genuinely memorable, the Treehouse accommodation is the headline act, set within the grounds and designed for a more exclusive, special-occasion stay.
Practical bits for a golf break are all covered. With golf, dining and the spa on site, you can park up and forget about driving for the weekend. Wi-Fi is included, parking is easy and check-in is quick enough to make an afternoon tee time without the usual faff. Rooms are comfortable rather than flashy, which is exactly what you want when you're prioritising time on the course over time in the room.
The accommodation setup works particularly well for societies who want everyone under one roof but with enough variety that you can split the group across room types depending on budget. It's also a solid choice if you're mixing golfers and non-golfers, since the spa, gardens and dining give plenty to do off the course without needing to leave the estate.
Dining at Ramside is refreshingly varied. The Rib Room Steakhouse champions locally sourced meat and does a proper job with cuts and sides, which is what you want after a long day walking 36 holes. Fusion, located in the spa, leans into pan-Asian flavours and lighter dishes, which is spot on between treatments or after an afternoon round. Pemberton's Carvery serves a roast every single day alongside a generous spread of fresh vegetables, so if your group can't agree on where to eat, this is the safe bet that keeps everyone happy.
The clubhouse keeps things relaxed with sandwiches, burgers and afternoon tea, perfect for a lighter bite after your round or if you're just looking to sit with a pint and go through the scorecard. It's the kind of setup where you can eat well without needing to book a table three weeks in advance or dress up, which suits the pace of a golf break.
The spa at Ramside is a proper facility rather than a token add-on, offering everything from treatments to thermal experiences in a setting that makes it easy to forget you're only a few minutes from Durham city centre. It's the ideal counterbalance to a day on the course, especially if you've walked both layouts or you're nursing a dodgy back after too many practice swings. For couples or groups with non-golfers, it gives everyone something to do while you're out playing, and it's a good way to justify booking an extra night if you're trying to sell the trip at home.
Ramside Hall sits in Carrville, a few minutes from Durham city centre.
Address: Carrville, Durham, England, DH1 1TD
John
✓18 Mar 2020
A party of eight golfers enjoyed an overnight stay and game of golf at this fantastic resort. The staff were helpful and polite, the facilities top notch and the food excellent. In particular the spa with swimming pool, sauna and steam room were first class. A great place to stop over for a night if you are travelling as it's just off the A1(M) or if you are looking for a relaxing break.
Anne
✓5 Nov 2019
The room was excellent. It was spacious with a comfortable bed and clean bathroom. We had the carvery for our evening meal which unfortunately was very disappointing. The meat was dry and over cooked as were the vegetables. The waiting staff collected plates from the table while others in the party were still eating.
Sue
✓18 Sep 2019
Great golf hotel.
Mike
✓11 Sep 2019
Very relaxed experience. Great facilities and large rooms, especially the grand bathrooms. Great experience for a golfing group.
David
✓10 Sep 2019
A luxurious hotel and an ideal venue for our society’s golf break. Excellent service all round.
Caroline
✓4 Sep 2019
As a party of 8 all of us thought the hotel was great and really worked well for us?
Keith
✓4 Sep 2019
We were a party of eleven on a Sunday driver golf trip,the hotel is conveniently situated and the facilities are excellent,the menu choice for our evening meal was a carvery which was very enjoyable,and drinks were not overpriced apart from branded bottled lagers.
Philip
✓7 Aug 2019
Rooms very good, ground floor with patio door, very clean and tidy. At check in we were not provided with information regarding the hotel complex, in particular it wasn’t explained that you couldn’t sign for drinks etc to your your room. This came to light during the evening at the bar and in the restaurant when we had to pay cash. Apparently we should have been asked for a credit card, at reception, which would enable us to bill items to our room. This could not be done retrospectively. The evening food, in the carvery, was at best average, I guess it had been open for Sunday lunch and wasn’t at it’s freshest in the evening. Breakfast was a very good buffet. Staff were friendly and attentive.
Chris
✓25 Jul 2019
Excellent golf & spa resort. Hotel good quality plenty of facilities, friendly staff, reasonable food. Two great golf courses, top spa facilities.
Nanette
✓19 Jun 2019
Lovely rooms, friendly staff and I would love to return. Could do with a bit more information in the room to indicate times for breakfast (and where it is) but only had to ask. Tried to call reception from room but no instructions somehow ended up speaking to someone trying to ring the hotel not sure how it happened but was a funny story for the next day! Ran out of time to use the spa but looked fantastic and cavers food was lovely and breakfast too
John
✓18 Mar 2020
We played this course in March following a wet weather spell and the course was wet underfoot but playable. The green had been cored / spiked and were slow and not rolling smoothly, but this was expected at this time of year following a spell of bad weather. I would expect the green to be much better in the summer months. There are a few long walks between green to tee as the course is on two sides of a road linked by an "underpass". There are a few steep hills, so I would recommend buggies if your fitness could be better.
Anne
✓5 Nov 2019
Interesting course with lots of challenging holes. Despite the dreadful weather I really enjoyed playing this course.
Anne
✓5 Nov 2019
Because of the consistent heavy rainfall before our visit it is difficult to make proper judgement of this course. However, the grounds staff were doing their best to clear the greens of water and keep the course open.
Sue
✓18 Sep 2019
Great golf!
Sue
✓18 Sep 2019
Great golf!
Mike
✓11 Sep 2019
Nice course with some challenging but satisfying holes. Greens weren't at their best when we played. some very slow play ahead of our group.
Mike
✓11 Sep 2019
Take a buggy! Long treks from green to tee. Long Par 4's and quite tough for average golfers.
David
✓10 Sep 2019
A lovely, well designed picturesque course to play on. It clearly receives more attention than the Cathedral Course.
David
✓10 Sep 2019
Greens were in average condition with animal burrows and pitch marks present.
Caroline
✓4 Sep 2019
Only did 12 holes as it was so windy the balls were blowing off the tees and our golf bags and trolleys were blowing over which was such a shame! Would definitely like to play it again.
Check-in from 3pm | Check-out from 11am
7-10am
Casual
Pemberton’s
Yes
Yes
£50 (subject to availability)
None
There are 4 bars on site
There is complimentary car parking
