1 Night, 2 Rounds
Set in the rolling Shropshire countryside near the Wales border, Macdonald Hill Valley Hotel, Golf & Spa is a strong shout for a straightforward, good-value UK golf break. You've got two on-site championship courses, a recently upgraded four-star hotel (following a £10 million investment) and a well-equipped spa set-up for post-round recovery.
Hill Valley is home to the Emerald and Sapphire courses, both opened in 1975 and now well established, with enough difference between them to keep a weekend interesting. It's also an easy one for travel, less than an hour from Liverpool and Stoke-on-Trent, with Whitchurch station only two miles away.
Off the course you'll find 81 refurbished bedrooms, two bars, The Borders Restaurant, a 20-metre pool and a thermal suite. For groups and societies, the big win is convenience. You can play, eat, have a drink and get back to your room without needing taxis or a long drive between rounds.
Who is this for?
Golfers or groups looking for a well-rounded UK break that pairs two quality courses with four-star facilities, a spa, and easy access from the Midlands and North West.
Who is it best for?
Societies, couples and small groups who want variety in their golf, comfortable accommodation, and the option to relax properly between rounds without travelling far from the hotel.
* Where applicable, the relevant promotions will be applied during the booking process. T&Cs may apply.
1 Night, 2 Rounds
2 Nights, 3 Rounds
3 Nights, 4 Rounds
The Emerald Course is named as such in a tribute to its lush, green environment, and is an excellent resort course, being suitably challenging for skilled players, whilst remaining playable for the average visitor. The natural undulations of the landscape work in harmony with the strategically positioned water hazards and sand traps to create many challenging holes, while the superb greens are expertly maintained to ensure that they putt beautifully throughout the year.
| Par | 73 |
|---|---|
| Designed by | Peter Alliss and Dave Thomas |
| Opened in | 1975 |
| White | 6,714 yards | SSS 72 |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow | 6,304 yards | SSS 70 |
| Red | 5,509 yards | SSS 71 |
The Sapphire Course may be considerably shorter than the Emerald, but it is no less entertaining. At 4,801 yards, you would not expect to be unduly challenged, but the abundant hazards, particularly the water, make matching the par of 66 extremely difficult. A deadly short game is priceless around the Sapphire, where those with a good grasp of the ‘scoring shots' - from within 100 yards - will no doubt reap the rewards.
Hill Valley's two golf courses and excellent facilities make it an ideal host for a corporate golf day.
Hole 18 (Emerald Course), Par 4, 401 yards (White Tees), SI 9
The 18th on the Emerald contains an exciting approach shot over a pond. The green is small, and contains bunkers left and right, with trees behind ensuring that any mishit shots will be punished accordingly. A fantastic closing hole requiring a sustained concentration to score par.
| Par | 66 |
|---|---|
| Designed by | Peter Alliss and Dave Thomas |
| Opened in | 1975 |
| White | 4,801 yards | SSS 64 |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow | 4,454 yards | SSS 62 |
| Red | 4,145 yards | SSS 64 |
The hotel at Hill Valley reflects the £10 million investment clearly, from the moment you walk into the reception through to the 81 guest bedrooms that now sit comfortably at four-star standard. Each room comes with the sort of touches you'd expect, plasma screen televisions, quality linens, and enough space to unpack properly after a round. The layout is straightforward, the décor is contemporary without being flashy, and the rooms are genuinely restful, which matters when you're planning to play 36 holes the next day.
Service across the hotel is attentive without being overbearing. The team knows the rhythm of a golf break, when to be visible and when to let you get on with things, and that understanding runs through everything from check-in to breakfast service. After 36 holes, it's easy to wind down with dinner, a swim and a comfortable night's sleep.
For dining, The Borders Restaurant is the main evening option, with the chef's Shropshire Cheese beignet a standout on a menu that leans into local produce and classic British cooking done well. It's a relaxed, golfer-friendly set-up, ideal after a day on the courses. If you're after something lighter, the Denby Lounge Bar handles lunch and casual bites throughout the day, while the Masters Bar does exactly what a 19th hole should: cold drinks, comfortable seating, and enough space for a group to settle in and replay the round.
The spa and wellness complex is a genuine asset, particularly the 20-metre pool and thermal suite, which get plenty of use from golfers looking to ease tired legs after a hilly round. The treatment menu covers the usual face and body options, all delivered in a calm, well-designed space that feels separate from the busier parts of the hotel. There's also a Technogym-equipped fitness suite for anyone who wants to keep up their routine, though most guests are here for the golf and the recovery rather than extra cardio.
Hill Valley works well for mixed-ability groups because the facilities give non-golfers or lighter players plenty to do, while serious golfers get two full championship courses and the kind of hotel that understands what you need after 18 holes.
Macdonald Hill Valley is just north of Whitchurch in Shropshire, around two miles from Whitchurch train station. Chester is 20 miles away, Shrewsbury 24 miles and Crewe 17 miles, so it's straightforward by car or rail. The location works particularly well for English golfers wanting a quick escape or those combining Hill Valley with courses over the border in Wales. Parking is ample, the grounds are well kept, and the whole setup feels designed around making a golf break as straightforward as possible.
Address: Tarporley Road, Whitchurch, Shropshire, England, SY13 4HA
David
✓8 Jun 2026
Excellent spacious room, with both a bath and seperate shower. Housekeepong very good. Food was ok, and could be slightly better to enhance or complement the rest of the stay.
Alan
✓26 May 2026
We stayed 1 night. The room was spacious, beds a bit firm and creaking, but overall no complaints.
Kevin
✓29 Apr 2026
The reception staff were very friendly and helpful. The bar staff were a little offish ( didn't talk ) and the drinks were a little expensive.
Ian
✓28 Apr 2026
All good. Just would like nicer coffee for breakfast. A bit like dishwater
Richard
✓28 Apr 2026
You pay for what you get - that about sums it up. Cheap golf weekend but really enjoyed my time there. The hotel is very tired, rooms are basic but for a night it was fine. Didn’t have the evening meal, quick walk to Whitchurch was a much better option. Breakfast was well below par, set up like a buffet but you were served food by the staff!!! The food was not great as well. It’s a cheap hotel so go without expecting much and you’ll be happy
Ian
✓24 Apr 2026
Robert
✓19 Apr 2026
The hotel is modern and located in the heart of the two courses. The staff were great, very helpful and friendly. The pool and gym are good but the steam room needs a little bit of maintenance. We enjoyed the experience all considered.
Paul
✓19 Apr 2026
Stay was nice but beds were very soft and uncomfortable. We were also put on a floor where there was a large party of children that kept running up and down the corridor into the late night. The hotel should not put groups of children on the same floor as golf guests.
Philip
✓15 Apr 2026
5 star prices for 2 star venue. Very expensive all round. Quality of table d`hote - OK for what it was, quantity - generally very small - when a bowl of extra chips requested - the waitress had to check with chef! Returned to say he could do a `normal portion` per person at £7 extra each! 3 of the group went for a McDonalds after! Also ran out of pate as a starter. Breakfast was OK apart from no tomatoes or white bread on first morning. Bar ran out of bitter, lager and affordable whiskey over the 2 nights. Waitresses did their best but service very slow and ability poor at times - ie barman couldnt make an acceptable cup of coffee: cold, wishy washy & £7! Halfway house on Emerald also had no milk for drinks! Rooms were not serviced for 2nd day Facilities, decor & appearance very `tired` but pool & gym looked good, however we didnt use them - there for golf & craic. There did seem to be some maintenence work being carried out. Most of the staff were friendly and as helpful as they could be & seemed to be stymied by processes & procedures. Many of us have spent a lot of time in different hotels over the UK (& world) with business & holidays & 2 of the group were hoteliers themselves (so understanding of hotel issues)- they all agree with the above marks & comments.
Alan
✓30 Mar 2026
Very enjoyable stay staff were great great weekend away
David
✓8 Jun 2026
Sapphire could do with a bit more tlc, nevertheless still a challenging course and more undulating than the Emerald.
David
✓8 Jun 2026
Really enjoyed the Emerald course. Very well maintained.
Alan
✓26 May 2026
Enjoyed this more than the Emerald. Again some tough holes, but lkenty of fun. Great that drinks were sold by the staff around the course as it was 33 degree C.
Alan
✓26 May 2026
Some tough holes, especially as the course is undulating so many blind shots over brows.
Kevin
✓29 Apr 2026
A lovely golf course, above average in difficulty but not too hard. In good condition throughout. The fairways were good as were the greens, slightly faster than we are used to. Although a little slow, the sun was shining so it was still a very enjoyable round.
Kevin
✓29 Apr 2026
Short but interesting course. Fairways were good. Unfortunately the green were very sandy in places with small wooden chips all over ( too many to clear ) which changed the roll of the ball.
Ian
✓28 Apr 2026
A step up from Sapphire. Enjoyed it
Ian
✓28 Apr 2026
Greens in very poor condition
Richard
✓28 Apr 2026
Terrible condition, greens were more sand than grass. Just very badly looked after. I’d pay no more than £15. It’s a lot shorter, loads of par 3’s and with a bit of TLC it could be really good.
Richard
✓28 Apr 2026
Good course, well looked after. Long but easy to walk around.
