Hawthorn

The Hawthorn gallery sits in Powys, not far from Hereford, and it's one of those places that rewards a proper detour if you're camping or glamping nearby - particularly if you're based at By the Wye or one of the other sites dotted around Hay-on-Wye way. It's a contemporary art space that punches above its weight for a rural location, showcasing work from emerging and established artists without the pretence you'd find in bigger city galleries.

What you're actually doing here is wandering through exhibition spaces that change regularly, so there's genuine reason to visit more than once during a week-long holiday. The work tends toward the thoughtful rather than the showy - sculpture, painting, installation pieces that make you stop and actually look. It's the sort of place where you can spend twenty minutes or two hours depending on what's on and how deep you want to go.

Families with older kids will find it engaging enough, though younger children might lose interest quickly - it's not interactive in the hands-on sense. For artists, designers, or anyone who actually enjoys looking at contemporary work rather than just ticking off attractions, it's genuinely worth the visit. Walker types heading to the Wye Valley or exploring the Powys countryside might stumble across it and be pleasantly surprised.

The practical stuff: I'd ring ahead to check what's currently on and opening times, as independent galleries can be a bit fluid with hours. It's the sort of place that rewards being close by, so if you're staying at Chapel House Farm or Heart of the Wye Glamping, it's easily slotted into a morning or afternoon.