Stone beetle

Stone Beetle is a gallery tucked away near Stanley in Tyne and Wear, and it's one of those places that rewards the curious. The space focuses on contemporary art and sculpture, with a particular emphasis on stone work that'll make you look twice at materials you'd normally walk past. Inside, you get proper thoughtful pieces - the kind that stick with you after you've left.

It's not a massive operation, so don't expect to spend hours here. An afternoon visit works better than a full day, though if you're into sculpture and contemporary practice, you could easily linger. The work on display tends to be considered and well-made, which means it appeals most to art enthusiasts and anyone who enjoys galleries that aren't trying to be everything to everyone. Families with younger kids might find it a bit quiet for their liking - there's not much interactive stuff going on.

If you're staying at one of the nearby parks - Beamish Glamping sits just 1.4 miles away and consistently gets five-star reviews - this makes for a decent cultural punctuation during a wider park holiday. Beamish Holiday Park is also close by at under a mile. The area around Stanley has enough going on that you won't feel like you're making a detour just for one gallery, but Stone Beetle itself is worth an hour or so if contemporary art is your thing.