Ferndown Art Trial

The Ferndown Art Trail is a proper community project that takes you round a string of local studios and galleries in this corner of Dorset, just outside Ringwood. Rather than a single building, you're walking or driving between working artists' spaces - painters, sculptors, ceramicists, the usual suspects - and you get to see them actually making things. Some open their doors during specific weekends; others operate by appointment. It's free to wander round and have a look, though obviously artists appreciate if you buy something.

This works brilliantly if you're the sort of person who gets more from watching a potter at the wheel than staring at a finished piece in a museum. Less brilliant if you want to tick off a gallery visit in an afternoon - the trail can be a bit bitty, and you'll need a couple of hours minimum to do it justice. Families with restless kids might find it patchy; walkers and art types will love it. The surrounding area is quiet and green, which adds to the appeal. Check ahead though - opening times vary, and you don't want to turn up expecting someone to be in their studio on a Tuesday only to find they're only open weekends.

If you're based at one of the nearby holiday parks like Oakdene Forest Park or Forest Edge, both just a few miles off, the trail makes for a low-key morning out that beats another rainy-day activity. Combine it with a walk round Ringwood itself or head into the New Forest for something more structured.