Oriel Gallery

Tucked into Conwy's tight medieval streets, Oriel Gallery is a proper working studio and exhibition space that punches well above its weight. You'll find contemporary art and craft here - paintings, sculpture, ceramics, jewellery - all from Welsh and UK-based artists. It's the kind of place where you might actually bump into makers at work, which changes the whole experience from looking at art to understanding it.

The gallery itself occupies one of those characterful old Conwy buildings, all low doorways and unexpected corners. Work tends toward the accessible end of contemporary practice rather than anything too conceptual, which means you won't leave feeling baffled. Prices are reasonable if something catches your eye properly.

Walkers and culture-minded types will find it worth a 20-minute stop between exploring Conwy's castle and waterfront. It's not a sit-down-for-two-hours kind of place, more of a genuine gallery break than a rainy-day timekiller. Anyone staying at Bryn Morfa Caravan Park or Conwy Lodge Park - barely more than a mile away - should make time for it. The town itself rewards poking about, and this gallery is better than most high street alternatives.

Head there mid-morning before tour coaches clog the streets. Check locally for opening hours and specific exhibitions when you arrive, as programme changes seasonally.