Sable Studio Gallery

The Sable Studio Gallery sits just outside Swadlincote, tucked away in the kind of spot you'd miss if you weren't looking properly. It's a working artist's studio and exhibition space, so what you get here is genuine - actual makers at their benches, their work on the walls, no corporate polish or gift shop theatrics.

You'll find contemporary art and craft on display, with pieces ranging from painting to sculpture to functional ceramics. The gallery has that intimate feel of a proper artist's studio rather than a slick commercial venue. Wandering through, you sense the work actually means something to the people who made it. It's the kind of place where you might strike up a conversation with the artist themselves, which happens more often than not.

This appeals most to anyone serious about supporting local makers or looking for something genuine rather than mass-produced wall art. You won't need more than an hour or so, but if you've landed at one of the nearby camping sites - Conkers is only just over half a mile away, or Fire & Stars if you fancy woodland camping with a sauna - it's well worth combining with a browse around Swadlincote itself. Broadleaves Glamping sits five miles out if you want something more upmarket.

Best visited midweek when it's quieter and you might actually get proper time with whoever's running the space. Opening hours vary depending on studio work, so check ahead before making the trip. It won't dominate your day, but it's the kind of detour that justifies itself.