The Chatton Gallery

The Chatton Gallery sits quietly in the Northumberland countryside near Wooler, and it's the sort of place that rewards turning up without massive expectations. Inside you'll find contemporary art and craft work - paintings, ceramics, jewellery, that sort of thing - displayed across a space that feels genuinely intimate rather than grand. The work on show changes regularly, which means it's worth checking what's on before you visit, though I'll admit the website information is a bit thin on the ground.

This is really a stop for art enthusiasts rather than kids, though the gallery itself won't overwhelm anyone. You're talking twenty minutes to an hour, depending on what's up and whether you fancy a chat with whoever's manning the desk. It's the kind of place that benefits from a quiet afternoon rather than a rainy day escape plan - the lighting and space mean proper attention works better than a rushed dash through.

From the holiday parks scattered around Wooler - Highburn House and South Meadows are both solid options if you're basing yourself in the area - the gallery makes a sensible half-hour diversion on a bigger walking day. Wooler itself is well positioned for rambling in the Cheviots, so you could easily combine this with a proper hill session or a gentler wander through the town. It's not a headline attraction, but that's rather the point. You'll likely have the place to yourself.