Keith Salmon

The Keith Salmon gallery sits in Ayrshire, though finding firm details about opening hours or admission proves trickier than you'd expect. When it's open, this is a proper working space that takes visual art seriously - the kind of venue where you can actually have a conversation with someone who knows what they're talking about.

The gallery focuses on contemporary work, which means you're not trudging through centuries of portraiture or dusty still lifes. It's the sort of place artists themselves seem to respect, which counts for something. The space itself has that intimate feel - you can work through the whole thing in an hour without feeling rushed, or spend longer if something hooks you.

Art enthusiasts will get more from this than casual gallery drifters, though there's nothing intimidating about it. Families with older kids interested in what artists are actually making right now will find it worthwhile. Younger children might get bored fairly quickly unless they're already into looking at art properly.

Your best bet is ringing ahead to confirm it's open before making the trip. It's well positioned if you're staying at Parkdean Resorts Sandylands Holiday Park, just a few miles south - close enough for an afternoon visit without eating into your day. Ayrshire itself has enough going on that visiting this gallery makes sense as part of a wider exploration rather than a standalone day out.