Quarry Steen

You'll find Quarry Steen tucked away near Inverurie, a gallery that punches above its weight despite the sparse information floating around online. It's the sort of place that rewards showing up without expectations - the kind of venue where local artists exhibit work that actually makes you stop and look rather than drift through on autopilot.

The gallery itself occupies what feels like a genuinely creative space, though getting specifics beforehand is tricky. Opening hours aren't widely publicised, so phoning ahead is essential - nothing worse than driving out to Aberdeenshire only to find the door locked. That said, once you're in, you're looking at the sort of intimate exhibition space where you can spend anywhere from twenty minutes to an hour depending on what's on and how much the work grabs you.

This works best for people who actually care about contemporary art rather than those just ticking boxes on a Highland holiday. If you're staying at Hillhead Caravan Park - a decent enough base just 2.5 miles away - it's easily combined with wandering Inverurie itself. The town's got some proper history if you're into that sort of thing, so you could make an afternoon of it without stretching yourself.

Free entry is likely, though I'd verify. It's not a major drawcard, but if you're in the area and appreciate seeing what local artists are doing, it's worth the detour. Just don't bank on it being your highlight.