Church Farm Art Gallery

An old working farm converted into a proper art gallery - that's Church Farm near Bakewell, and it's the sort of place you'd walk past without realising what's inside. The building itself is the draw as much as the work on the walls: exposed beams, uneven floors, the kind of authentic agricultural bones that galleries in market towns simply can't replicate.

You'll find contemporary work here, usually from regional artists, rotating regularly enough that repeat visits make sense. The space is intimate rather than grand, which means you won't spend three hours wandering about. Forty minutes to an hour gets you through properly, longer if you're the type to sit with a single piece.

It suits anyone after art without the stuffiness of a major institution - particularly painters and sculptors who appreciate seeing work in an unconventional setting. Families with older kids will find it manageable; younger ones might get restless on a rainy afternoon. The real value comes if you're staying at one of the caravan parks nearby - Chatsworth Park is barely a mile away - and want something to do beyond walking the surrounding hills. Bakewell itself is two minutes down the road if you need lunch or a decent coffee.

Admission details aren't readily available online, so ring ahead. Worth the detour if you're in the area, though don't expect it to be your main reason for visiting the Peaks. It's a proper bonus rather than a destination.