Don't Ever Lose Hope

The gallery's title alone makes you pause. Don't Ever Lose Hope sits in Carmarthenshire, just a short drive from Swansea, and it's the sort of place that catches you off guard - in the best way. This is contemporary art space that takes itself seriously without the pretension you sometimes get in galleries. The work here tends toward the thought-provoking rather than the decorative, and the setting feels intimate enough that you're not just walking past things.

It works particularly well if you're the type who genuinely engages with art rather than simply ticking off a visit. You'll spend a proper hour here at least, maybe longer if something really grabs you. Families with older kids who can sit with ideas will find it worthwhile; younger ones might lose interest quickly.

The practicalities are a bit thin on the ground - we'd recommend ringing ahead to check opening hours before you make the trip, and do ask about admission costs. Swansea itself is close enough that you could easily combine this with a walk along Mumbles seafront or a browse of the city centre if you're after a fuller day out.

If you're based at one of the nearby parks - Gateway Resort, South Wales Touring Park, or Shoreline Caravan Park are all within a few miles - this makes a brilliant rainy-afternoon option. It's the kind of stop that reminds you why you came to South Wales beyond just the beaches and castle visits.