Woodpecker

The Woodpecker gallery sits just outside Rickmansworth, a proper art space that punches above its weight for a small Buckinghamshire venue. It's contemporary work mostly - paintings, prints, sculpture - rotating exhibitions that actually make you stop and look rather than shuffle through in twenty minutes.

The gallery itself is intimate. No grand marble halls or crowds of school groups. You can spend an hour here if something catches your eye, or fifteen minutes if you're just passing through. The staff know what they're talking about, which makes a difference. It's the sort of place that works well if you're staying at one of the nearby caravan parks - North Hill Farm is practically on the doorstep at under a mile away, or you've got Highclere and Wyatts Covert a short drive off if you want camping with more facilities.

Who'll get most from it? Anyone with a genuine interest in contemporary art, really. Not a family day out with restless kids - there's not enough here to occupy them for long. But if you're a walker taking in the Rickmansworth area or someone who likes mixing a bit of culture into a camping break, it's worth checking opening hours and what's on before you visit. The Colne Valley and local canal walks are right there, so you could easily combine it with a proper ramble.

Do phone ahead - places this size can have odd hours - but it's the kind of gallery that rewards actually showing up.