oriel AWEN gallery

Oriel AWEN sits in Welshpool, a modest gallery that punches above its weight for a town of this size. The space showcases contemporary Welsh art and craft - paintings, sculpture, textile work - rotating exhibitions that actually feel curated rather than just filling wall space. It's a proper working gallery, the kind where you might bump into artists or catch them mid-installation.

This isn't a half-day destination on its own. Realistically, you're looking at 45 minutes to an hour, depending on how deep you go with the exhibition notes. It works brilliantly as part of a wider Welshpool wander though - pair it with the town's market square and you've got a pleasant morning sorted. Families with older children who don't mind a quiet gallery will get on fine; younger kids might find it bit thin on interactive bits.

The gallery makes an excellent anchor point if you're basing yourself at one of the nearby holiday parks. Valley View Holiday Park and Cae Nant Glamping are both under five miles away, so you could easily pop into town for a gallery visit without overcommitting the day. It's the sort of thing that appeals to anyone with a genuine interest in contemporary Welsh art rather than tourist crowds after a quick photo op.

Before you go, check opening hours - gallery spaces in mid-Wales can be variable with their schedules. Admission is usually free or just a couple of quid, but phone ahead to be certain. Go on a weekday if you want the place nearly to yourself.