Vaulted Nest

The Vaulted Nest sits in Lisburn and Castlereagh, a gallery space that rewards a bit of hunting around if you're based near Hillsborough. It's the sort of place that appeals to anyone with a genuine interest in contemporary art - not the type of venue that'll keep restless kids entertained for long, but brilliant if you're the sort who likes to stand in front of a piece and actually think about it.

What you get here is work from emerging and established artists, rotating exhibitions that shift with the seasons. The space itself has character - those vaulted ceilings give the place its name and create something architecturally interesting even before you clock the work on the walls. The whole experience feels intimate rather than overwhelming, which is refreshing if you've just come from one of those cavernous Belfast galleries.

Plan a couple of hours if you're making an afternoon of it, though an hour's enough if you're just passing through. Check ahead though - opening hours aren't exactly plastered everywhere, and you'll want to know what's currently on show before you make the trip.

If you're staying at Lakeside View Caravan Park, it's only twenty minutes or so away, making it an easy cultural break from a park-based holiday. Hillsborough itself is worth pottering around if you've got time - decent cafes and a proper castle to explore.