Milton Art Gallery

The Milton Art Gallery sits in Banchory, a riverside town in Aberdeenshire that feels properly removed from the usual tourist circuits. It's a compact space - the kind of place you can work through in an hour or so without feeling rushed, which suits a rainy afternoon when the Highlands are being typical about the weather.

Inside you'll find rotating exhibitions of contemporary Scottish art, craft work, and occasionally touring shows that punch above what you'd expect in a town this size. The staff know their stuff and aren't the type to hover; they'll chat if you ask but leave you alone to look. It's refreshingly unpretentious - no vast marble atriums or gift shops trying to sell you £25 notebooks.

This works best for anyone with a genuine interest in art rather than families looking to burn an hour. Kids will get restless. But if you're staying at Silverbank or Banchory Lodge - both excellent caravan parks within walking distance - and the weather's turned, it's a solid backup plan. Pair it with a walk along the Dee or a poke around Banchory's town centre shops and you've got a half-day sorted.

The gallery's free to enter, which is generous, though donations are encouraged. Go mid-week if you can; weekends bring tour groups and it loses some of its calm. Check ahead before you visit - opening hours and exhibitions change seasonally and there's no guarantee it's open when you turn up.