Donald Watson Art Gallery

The Donald Watson Art Gallery sits in East Lothian, a proper little find if you're doing the rounds of the Scottish Lowlands. It's a working gallery space that focuses on contemporary Scottish art - the sort of place where you might stumble across work from local painters and sculptors who actually know what they're doing, rather than the tourist-trap stuff you see everywhere else.

You'll spend a good hour here if you take it seriously, maybe half that if you're just passing through. The space itself isn't enormous, which means you're not walking round miles of corridors, but the work tends to be well-curated. Wall text is decent too - the kind that tells you something without being patronising.

It's ideal for art types and anyone who gets a bit tired of castle tours. Kids might find it a touch dull unless they're already interested in painting and sculpture, to be honest. Worth checking what's on before you visit, as exhibitions change regularly and some shows are stronger than others.

If you're staying at Haven Seton Sands Holiday Village just down the road, it's an easy detour on an afternoon when the weather's not playing ball. Combine it with a walk around East Lothian's coastal bits - Dunbar's worth a look if you're in the area. Ring ahead or check their website for opening hours and admission prices before you set off, as these things aren't always straightforward.