Vortex

You'll find yourself standing in front of a proper art gallery that takes its mission seriously - no twee watercolours of heather, just contemporary work that actually makes you think. Vortex sits within reach of Perth, and it's the kind of place that rewards a proper look rather than a quick scan round.

The gallery focuses on contemporary art, which means installations, mixed media, and pieces that challenge rather than comfort. If you're the type who likes to stand in front of something for five minutes and wonder what the artist was on about, this is your spot. Families with older kids might find it interesting; younger ones will probably lose patience after twenty minutes unless there's something particularly visual on.

What's genuinely useful is that it doesn't demand hours of your day. You can work through it in under an hour, which makes it a decent afternoon activity if you're camping nearby at Scone Camping and Caravanning Club Site or Perth Caravan Park. The former's got a top rating for good reason, and both are close enough that you could easily pop into Perth town centre as well.

The best approach is checking what's on before you go - contemporary galleries live or die by their exhibitions. Ring ahead or check online first, because you don't want to arrive hoping for something specific only to find the space is between shows. Worth the detour if contemporary art interests you, but don't expect it to anchor an entire holiday.