Delamore Arts

Delamore Arts sits just outside Plymouth and pulls in a steady crowd of serious art types and casual browsers alike. It's a working gallery space where you'll find contemporary work alongside craftwork - the sort of place where half the appeal is stumbling on something unexpected rather than ticking off a checklist.

The gallery itself is modest in scale, which means you won't need half a day to work through it. Most visitors spend between one and two hours wandering, reading the artist statements, and deciding whether they actually like that abstract piece or just feel obliged to. Staff are usually helpful without being pushy, which is refreshing.

It works particularly well if you're staying at one of the nearby parks - Dartmoor Domes is only 2.9 miles away and Hidden Hill Devon a touch further - and want a rainy afternoon option or a quick cultural break from outdoor pursuits. Families with teenagers who aren't yet bored of galleries will find enough here to justify a visit, though younger kids might flag after 45 minutes.

The real question is whether you're already in the Plymouth area. If you're stopping over anyway, absolutely worth an hour. If you're deliberately driving out from Dartmoor just for this, check what's currently showing first - the quality varies depending on the exhibition. Best bet is ringing ahead or checking social media for current details before you make the trip.