Bluestone Gallery

The Bluestone Gallery sits in the heart of Powys countryside, roughly equidistant between Hereford and Hay-on-Wye. It's a working gallery focused on contemporary art and craft - the sort of place where you'll find everything from paintings and sculpture to ceramics and jewellery, most of it by Welsh and Border artists.

You're not walking into a museum here. This is a proper working space where artists sell direct, so there's a real sense of discovery - and occasionally you'll catch someone actually making work if you time it right. The collection rotates, so repeat visits make sense if you're spending a fortnight in the area.

It's worth a 45-minute browse if you're into contemporary craft, less if you're not. Kids won't get much from it unless they're already interested in art. Walkers and cyclists heading to or from Hay will find it a pleasant break-from-the-road sort of stop rather than a destination in itself.

The location is ace for a caravan or glamping holiday - By the Wye Glamping is practically on the doorstep, and Hay-on-Wye Caravan Park sits just over a mile away. Both put you within easy reach of proper walking country and Hay's excellent bookshops and cafes.

Check ahead for opening hours and admission costs before you visit - the gallery doesn't advertise heavily, so ringing ahead beats a wasted journey.