THE COWSHED - Gallery -Studio

The Cowshed is exactly what it sounds like - a proper working studio and gallery space housed in a converted farm building just outside Lewes. You'll find contemporary art and craft work from local and emerging artists displayed in a setting that hasn't lost its agricultural character. The space maintains that slightly rough-around-the-edges feel that makes independent galleries worth visiting.

It's the kind of place that rewards a slow wander rather than a quick tick-box visit. The work tends towards ceramics, textiles, and sculpture, though the programme rotates, so what's on depends when you go. Artists often work in the studio itself, so you're not just looking at finished pieces - you're getting a sense of how things actually get made.

This suits people who actually care about art rather than those just looking for something to do on a rainy afternoon. If your kids are young and fidgety, they'll get restless quickly. But teenagers with any creative bent, or adults who appreciate craft, will find it worth the trip from Lewes.

I'd allow an hour, maybe ninety minutes if there's an artist at work you can chat with. It's free to look around, which is refreshing. The location between The Secret Campsite and Blackberry Wood makes it a natural addition to a camping holiday in the area - you're only a couple of miles from either site, so it's an easy drive or a decent walk if you're staying put for a few days.