Channel

Channel is a contemporary art gallery tucked into the Highland landscape near Invergordon, and it's the sort of place that catches you off guard if you're not looking for it. The space itself matters as much as what's hanging on the walls - you get that sense of stepping away from the everyday the moment you walk in.

The gallery focuses on modern and contemporary work, with rotating exhibitions that tend toward the thought-provoking rather than decorative. It's not massive, which means you can properly look at things without the fatigue of trudging through endless rooms. Most visits run to about 45 minutes to an hour, depending on how deeply you want to engage with the pieces on show.

This is solidly a place for art-minded visitors and anyone keen to see what's happening in Scottish contemporary practice. If your lot are more "ooh, nice landscape painting" than experimental installation, you might find it a bit abstract for your tastes. Kids could work, particularly older ones with some patience, but it's not set up as family entertainment.

Channel sits well into a broader Highland holiday - you're only a short drive from the Cromarty Firth, and the nearby pods and glamping spots at Newmore Highland and Delny offer proper bases for exploring the area. Check ahead on opening hours and current exhibitions before you visit, as independent galleries sometimes shift their schedules seasonally. Free or paid entry info isn't confirmed, so ring ahead.