1 Night, 2 Rounds
Set in 1,000 acres of Northumberland countryside, Slaley Hall Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort is one of the North of England's big-name golf resorts, the sort of place where you can rock up, park the car and not need to leave the estate all weekend. At the heart of it all is an elegant Edwardian mansion, backed up by a modern wing, a proper health club and two championship courses, the Hunting and Priestman, both classic parkland layouts with plenty of mature trees and strategic bunkering.
It's often nicknamed the 'Augusta of the North' and while I won't pretend it's Georgia, you do get that same 'big resort' feel, smart clubhouse, strong conditioning and a sense that you're playing somewhere built for golf breaks. Newcastle is only about 25 miles away so it's easy to reach, but once you're on site it's surprisingly peaceful, the sort of place where you can settle in for a few days and genuinely switch off.
And it's not just for golfers. The spa is a genuine draw with pool, sauna and steam room, plus treatments if you want to go full recovery mode between rounds. Add in on-site activities like clay pigeon shooting, fishing, hot-air ballooning and off-road driving, and you've got an easy win for mixed groups where not everyone wants 36 holes a day.
Who is this for?
Golfers seeking a traditional parkland resort experience in the North of England, groups and societies wanting two quality courses on-site, and couples or families looking to combine golf with spa facilities and outdoor activities.
Who is it best for?
Mid-to-low handicappers who want a proper championship test on the Hunting Course, mixed-ability groups who appreciate having a second, more forgiving layout in the Priestman, and anyone planning a multi-day break who values on-site variety and doesn't want to travel between courses.
* Where applicable, the relevant promotions will be applied during the booking process. T&Cs may apply.
1 Night, 2 Rounds
2 Nights, 2 Rounds
2 Nights, 3 Rounds
2 Nights, 3 Rounds
3 Nights, Unlimited Rounds
The Hunting Course is the superior layout at Slaley, and has been recognised for many years as an official PGA Tour venue, having hosted the Great North Open. Dave Thomas' design measures over 7,000 yards from the championship markers, and has some formidable holes. The course winds its way through towering trees and banks of beautiful rhododendrons, and golfers will be faced with many different challenges, where shaping the ball and being creative is certainly an advantage.
The signature hole of the resort is the Hunting's 9th, a tough par-4 where you must thread your drive between the monstrous trees on the right, and the meandering stream that skirts the left of the fairway. After a good tee shot, golfers are still left facing a long uphill approach shot to a severely sloping green, on what is one of the best par-4s around.
| Par | 72 |
|---|---|
| Designed by | David Thomas |
| Opened in | 1989 |
| Green | 7,088 yards | SSS 74 |
|---|---|---|
| White | 6,850 yards | SSS 75 |
| Yellow | 5,530 yards | SSS 71 |
| Red | 5,903 yards | SSS 75 |
The Priestman is the second course at Slaley Hall, but it should not suffer an inferiority complex. Designed by PGA Chairman Neil Coles, this is a great addition to the resort, making it one of the few to have two genuine championship courses. Opened in 1989, the Priestman has matured into a tournament venue, with some superb holes, and also fantastic panoramic views across the Tyneside Valley.
Slaley Hall's extensive practice facilities offer visiting golfers the perfect chance for some tuition to sharpen up their skills.
| Par | 72 |
|---|---|
| Designed by | Neil Coles |
| Opened in | 1989 |
| Green | 6,951 yards | SSS 75 |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow | 6,271 yards | SSS 72 |
| White | 5,597 yards | SSS 70 |
| Red | 5,755 yards | SSS 74 |
Slaley Hall blends an Edwardian main house with a modern wing, giving you 139 rooms in total. If you like a bit of old-school character, the mansion rooms have that classic country-house feel, high ceilings, traditional furnishings and a sense that you're staying somewhere with a bit of history. The newer rooms lean more contemporary and are a solid, no-fuss base for a golf weekend, clean, comfortable and fitted with everything you need after a day on the course.
For groups who want more space or a bit more independence, the lodges within the grounds are worth a look, especially for longer stays when you want to spread out, keep clubs handy and still be close to the clubhouse and hotel facilities. They're self-contained, which works well if you're travelling with non-golfers or if you just prefer a bit more privacy between rounds.
The layout of the estate makes it easy to move between golf, accommodation and facilities. The Clubhouse Bar and Grill sits between the two courses, so it's a natural post-round gathering point, hearty food, a good selection of drinks and a convivial atmosphere with open fireplaces, snooker and darts. It's the kind of place where you can settle in after 36 holes and not feel rushed. For something more formal, the Restaurant in the main hotel offers table service and a menu built around modern British cooking, though most golf groups tend to gravitate towards the clubhouse for the atmosphere.
The Leisure Club and Health and Beauty Spa are housed in a separate building and include a swimming pool, steam room, sauna, jacuzzi and a well-equipped gym. Handy if your group wants golf in the morning and spa time after lunch. The beauty salon offers everything from massages to treatments, and there are specialist options like hydrotherapy and thalassotherapy if you want to recover properly between rounds.
Beyond golf and spa, the estate's 1,000 acres allow for a surprising range of activities. Clay pigeon shooting, fishing, hot-air ballooning, off-road driving and paintballing are all available on-site, making Slaley Hall a genuine multi-activity destination rather than just a golf resort with a few extras tacked on. For families or mixed groups where not everyone plays, that breadth of choice makes a real difference.
The location works well for golf breaks. It's an easy run from Newcastle, and Hexham is close for rail arrivals, so it works well for Friday-after-work check-ins. Once you're on the estate, though, the sense of space and quiet is immediate, and that's a large part of what makes Slaley Hall work as a destination. You're far enough from the city to feel like you've left it behind, but close enough that transfers are straightforward and you're not spending half the weekend in the car.
Address: Coal Rd, Hexham, England, NE47 0BX
Sean
✓2 Jul 2026
Excellent venue for group booking - staff ensured we were well catered for and facilities set up really well as we’d agreed. Big thanks
Gerard
✓30 Jun 2026
Georgeous setting, rooms excellent & facilities just not enough staff when busy
Brenda
✓28 Jun 2026
Return stay at this hotel. Lovely setting. We had a very comfortable twin room which i suspect had been recently partly refurbished. Fresh bathroom but some of the furnishings a bit older but still perfectly OK. Food in the Brasserie was good and breakfast - a good selection for those who don't desire just a cooked breakfast. The guests seemed to be predominantly groups of male golfers. Lovely grounds for walking and decent if slightly tired swimming pool. Did not use the spa. Could do with some information about local amenities and some nice books or magazines in the lovely public rooms to while away an hour or two for the non golfers or those just needing a bit of quiet time.
Ann
✓17 Jun 2026
The room had a lovely view of the golf course, however the room itself was very tired looking and in need of refurbishment. The bed was untidy upon arrival and the bin in the bathroom had not been emptied. On reporting this to reception the staff member seemed uninterested. The restaurant was nice. The staff were lovely and there was a good selection of food.
Antony
✓15 Jun 2026
Golf venue, both courses where excellent the Hunting had just held a PGA event so the course was in fantastic shape. Hotel and facilities excellent , great rooms very clean, great staff.
David
✓10 Jun 2026
MANISH
✓8 Jun 2026
Average experienced unfortunately over crowded golf course and poor service contributed to the rating, waiting over 25 mins for drinks and shockingly 5 and half hours to complete a round is pretty poor.
Louise
✓5 Jun 2026
On the drive up to Slayley Hall it is a stunning run up to the carpark! It's such a pity the hotel doesn't live up to the beautiful entrance. Everywhere is tired. All soft furnishings, curtains etc need updating. Cracked tiles in bathroom and tired carpets, curtains etc. The main restaurant is overpriced and the quality of food is definitely NOT fine dining. The food quality is just about the equivalent of average pub grub.The wine menu is limited and both the Merlot and Pinot Noir (Californian) poor. The Claret Jug bar, however was great! Fully air-conditioned with a snack menu that was fairly priced. Morgan Buzzeo was serving behind the bar and was going the extra mile to make sure we were well catered for along with a smile and good chat along the way. This is always a positive! Get staff who can interact and liaise with customers. Jack Stewart was also very helpful in the top bar. The pro shop were also very accommodating when we asked to rearrange our game on the main course. Would I come back to stay at Slayley Hall - No. There is a tremendous amount of work to be done to justify over £700 for two nights. Both the rooms and main restaurant need a complete overhaul.
John
✓27 May 2026
Staff were good but short in numbers Hotel is very dated
Donald
✓27 May 2026
Clean perfectly good rooms.
Sean
✓2 Jul 2026
Again nice course - rough was rough ! Again needed a halfway hs …using the bar at halfway - too slow .
Sean
✓2 Jul 2026
Nice course, played well. No halfway house - would have been well used !!
Gerard
✓30 Jun 2026
As on the priestman bunkers were awful
Gerard
✓30 Jun 2026
Course excellent bunkers unplayable both days and missing Sand!!
Brenda
✓28 Jun 2026
This was a lovely course -very challenging with a lot of water and difficult approaches to the greens . The setting was very pretty. Again on a couple of occasions balls in the semi were impossible to find as it was too long and the daisies and clover had been allowed to flower. The round was very slow-4 hours 45mns- and I think there could have been some marshalling but as we were a two ball in the midst of four balls we were always going to suffer from this. I would play this course again but not as a two ball unless a quieter time could be guaranteed- maybe late afternoon or early evening .
Brenda
✓28 Jun 2026
This course was made very frustrating by the very punishing thick grass which completely swallowed any stray balls - even the cut grass at the side of the fairways was long enough to conceal balls among the flowering daisies and clover. The fairways need to be wider to accommodate the average golfer who will hit off line . Following a four ball we were held up at every hole by at least one player in front looking for a ball and we ourselves lost a record number. I wouldnt rush to play this course again
Ann
✓17 Jun 2026
The front 9 has a number of interesting and quirky holes. The back 9 is quite hilly and more difficult. Very enjoyable.
Ann
✓17 Jun 2026
Excellent golf course. Long and quiet difficult with fast greens. Very enjoyable.
Antony
✓15 Jun 2026
PGA event had just been held course was in fantastic condition.
Antony
✓15 Jun 2026
Great course better than most other courses , just had to contend with the hunting , great course layout and drivable holes.
