Gallery i

Gallery i sits in Inverurie, a working gallery that takes itself seriously without any of the stuffiness you'd dread. It's a contemporary space with rotating exhibitions - the kind of place where local and visiting artists show proper work, not tourist tat. The gallery itself is compact, which means you won't spend three hours wandering about feeling obliged to stare at things. Most visits run to 30 minutes to an hour, depending on what's on and how much the work grabs you.

This appeals most to people who genuinely care about art, which sounds obvious but matters. It's not a rainy-day distraction for restless kids - it's a genuine gallery for people who want to see something interesting. That said, if you're staying at Hillhead Caravan Park just outside town, it's absolutely worth a quick stop if an exhibition catches your eye. Aberdeenshire's Highland landscape can feel quite empty, so having actual contemporary art on your doorstep is rather a pleasant surprise.

The gallery's free to enter - worth checking their website for current exhibitions before you visit, as what you see depends entirely on what's showing. It's the kind of place that rewards a bit of research, and honestly, that's how it should be. You won't find opening hours that change weekly; Scottish galleries tend to be fairly reliable, but a quick phone call or look online before driving over from your caravan saves disappointment.