The courses stretch across vast green fields adjacent to romantic ruins or crashing ocean waves.

But I thought the opposite: only the very wealthy could afford the indulgence of decrepitude, like artificial romantic ruins in an English garden.

Many photographers are attracted to romantic ruins, but it is not easy to picture them effectively.

As a teen-ager, Clarence started building his romantic ruins of rock walls, rhododendrons, climbing roses, a few pergolas and brick walks.

In medieval days, it was encircled by a massive wall, parts of which still exist, as do the romantic ruins of a fortress atop a cliff.

Scholars at the University of Athens are leading the campaign to protect the abbey's romantic ruins.

Whittington Castle (01691 662397; www.whittingtoncastle.co.uk) has the distinction of being the only castle in England to be run by the local community, and the romantic ruins are well worth a visit.

Enjoy romantic ruins, exquisite seafood and sunshine in the quiet fishing town of Tavira on the Algarve.

Soane continued the building to the east with a servants' wing (perhaps an adaptation of existing buildings) and romantic ruins.

He had a passion for Irish antiquities, which he demonstrated in an unusual way by the erection of a number of romantic ruins around the estate.