Sherewood Gallery

The gallery sits just outside South Brent, a proper find if you're touring the Devon countryside. It's a contemporary art space that takes itself seriously without being pretentious - the sort of place where you might stumble in expecting a quick look and find yourself there for a good hour.

The shows rotate regularly, so there's always something different on the walls. Work ranges from painting and sculpture to photography and mixed media, and it tends to champion artists with a genuine connection to the South West rather than just whoever's fashionable in London. The space itself is unpretentious, which suits the work on display.

If you're staying at Ashbourne Woods just down the road, this makes an easy half-morning sortie when the weather turns wet or you fancy a break from the park. Art enthusiasts will get proper value from a visit, but it's also the kind of place that won't bore partners who aren't gallery regulars - the scale is manageable and the work rarely feels inaccessible.

Best to ring ahead or check online before heading over, as opening hours and admission details weren't straightforward to pin down. Given it's so close to Ashbourne Woods though, it's worth factoring into your itinerary. South Brent itself is charming enough for a wander afterwards - decent coffee spots and local shops if you need them.