oriel Tan yr Hall

The Victorian building that houses Oriel Tan yr Hall sits on the high street of Bala, a market town that feels pleasantly removed from the tourist rush of Snowdonia proper. It's a working gallery focused on contemporary Welsh art, so what's on the walls shifts seasonally - you might find landscape painting one month, abstract sculpture the next. The space itself has that slightly lived-in quality of a regional gallery run by people who actually care about the work rather than the footfall.

Walkers passing through Bala for the lake and mountain routes will find this worth thirty minutes or so, particularly if you're keen on seeing what's happening in the Welsh art scene beyond Cardiff galleries. It's not the sort of place that demands half a day, but it's a proper break from the weather and the effort if you're tackling the surrounding fells. The gallery attracts artists and art students, so there's usually something with genuine edge on show.

Bala itself is small enough that you'll have seen most of it by lunchtime, but that's partly the appeal. If you're based at Tyn Cornel Camping nearby, this is an easy wet-weather option that beats sitting in the caravan. The gallery is free to browse, though they'll expect you to buy a catalogue or postcard if you've taken up floor space for long. Best to ring ahead to check current exhibitions before you head in - opening hours can be limited depending on what's on.