Turfman

Turfman is a contemporary art gallery tucked into the Mid and East Antrim landscape, a short drive from Antrim town. It's a working space where you can watch artists develop their craft - which beats the sterile gallery feel you get in bigger cities. The exhibition programme shifts regularly, so there's no telling what you'll walk into: sculpture, painting, installation work, or something that defies easy categorisation altogether.

You'll get the most from this place if you actually care about process and intent rather than just ticking off cultural box-ticks. It's not a rainy-day time-killer for the kids; this is a proper engagement with contemporary practice. Allow an hour minimum, longer if there's a piece that hooks you. The gallery draws a thoughtful crowd - local artists, serious collectors, people who've made the pilgrimage from Belfast.

If you're based at one of the glamping sites nearby - Lough Beg is only 2.2 miles away, Sett on The Lough a touch further - Turfman works well as a morning or afternoon outing alongside walks around the lough itself. The contrast between the quiet rural setting and the intensity of what's happening inside the gallery is part of its appeal. It's the sort of place that reminds you Northern Ireland's art scene runs deeper than the tourist circuit suggests. Do ring ahead to confirm opening hours and what's on - you don't want a wasted journey.