Isti Mirant Stella

Art galleries tucked away in the Sussex countryside aren't what you'd expect to stumble across, but Isti Mirant Stella - just outside Pevensey - is exactly that kind of find. It's a working gallery space that takes its name from a Latin phrase meaning 'the stars stand amazed', which gives you a fair sense of what the owners are after: something contemplative, something that makes you stop and actually look.

The gallery itself focuses on contemporary work, though details on the current exhibitions aren't widely advertised online, so you'll want to ring ahead or just take pot luck. It's the sort of place that rewards a quiet afternoon - no crowds, no gift shop chaos, just art and whatever light's coming through the windows that day. It works particularly well if you're touring the coastal parks around here: Normans Bay and Warren Wood are both within a few miles, so you could easily combine it with a camping weekend without adding much to your route.

Who'll get the most from it? Anyone with a genuine interest in contemporary art rather than tourists ticking boxes. Kids will likely lose interest within twenty minutes unless they're the sketching-in-galleries type. Allow an hour if you're taking your time, though you could see the main space in half that if you're not lingering.

Bring a notebook. Bring your own sense of curiosity. Leave expectations at the door.