Benallack Barn is the perfect destination for anyone seeking a relaxing holiday surrounded by space and stunning scenery. However, the journey can be a long one, fortunately there are some fantastic places to stop along the way, offering the opportunity to stretch your legs and stock up with provisions. Here are some of our favourites.
Gloucester services | M5, Gloucester
Open 6.30am – 10pm
Situated on the M5 but definitely not run of the mill, this family run service station is more like farm shop cross spacious cafe, offering locally sourced produce, artisan bread, cakes and an interesting shop. Super local produce, with an environmental and social conscience. Worth visiting just to admire the architecture of their buildings settled in the local landscape.
You can refuel too, currently spend £15 in the shop and get 10p off per litre of fuel (see their website). EV charging.
Don’t leave without Gloucester Old Spot sausages from the butchers counter.
Teals | A303, near Sparkford (keep your eyes peeled for smallish ‘Teals’ signs
Open 8am – 6pm
Probably our favourite place to stop. Delicious food, albeit a small menu (breakfast and lunch) you’ll want everything on it! More like eating out than a pit stop, expect charred savoy cabbage salad sprinkled with local blue cheese and walnuts.
You can reserve tables, you’ll be rubbing shoulders with locals, always a good thing! In the shop, food market cross deli, there’s local and fresh produce alongside just generally fantastic produce, from further afield. Not only is it a great foodie place there’s a beautiful selection of homewares, books and cards.
You can’t escape their sustainable design choices and environmentally friendly approach. Designated, large dog walking field and orchard for summer picnics.
No fuel or EV charging.
I challenge you to leave without something you didn’t realise you needed!
Darts Farm | 3 miles from M5 junction junction 30
Open 8am – 7pm, Sunday 9.30am – 4.30pm
The Dart family have built an extraordinary farm shop from a 1970s pick your own farm. There’s a butchery, fishmongers, deli and fresh vegetables – gathered every morning from the farm and is a sight to behold, their quality attributed to the fertile Devon soil. Much like the next farm shop the Dart’s farm native Ruby Red’s famed for their marbling and taste. With 6 different places to eat, ranging from gelato to fish ’n chips and steak or whole turbot (late dinner service Thurs/Fri/Sat) there’s no shortage of options. If you need a longer break you can hire bikes (and access a 26 mile trail), pick sunflowers or pumpkins, master a maze, explore a sculpture trail, walk round the farm (dog friendly), get your binoculars out in the bird hide overlooking the wetlands or hook a carp in the fishponds!
EV charging.
A warning; not necessarily a quick stop!!
Strawberry fields | A30 Liftondown junction
Open 8am – 5pm, later in the summer
Blossoming from a popular strawberry P-Y-O this farm shop now offers a wide variety of produce and flowers you can pick as well as an excellent butchers and bakers. You can watch them make a variety of their own delicious jams and chutneys or their bees making honey in the observation hive. Theres’s a nice deli and gift shop and a vast restaurant serving a ‘ansom all day breakfast accompanied with freshly squeezed orange juice as well as an array of sandwiches, jacket potatoes, toasties and roasts (Sundays).
EV charging.
Don’t leave without fresh orange juice and a jar of their jam.
Strawberry fields | A30 Liftondown junction
Open 8am – 5pm, later in the summer
Blossoming from a popular strawberry P-Y-O this farm shop now offers a wide variety of produce and flowers you can pick as well as an excellent butchers and bakers. You can watch them make a variety of their own delicious jams and chutneys or their bees making honey in the observation hive. Theres’s a nice deli and gift shop and a vast restaurant serving a ‘ansom all day breakfast accompanied with freshly squeezed orange juice as well as an array of sandwiches, jacket potatoes, toasties and roasts (Sundays).
EV charging.
Don’t leave without fresh orange juice and a jar of their jam.
Tre Pol & Pen | A30, 3 miles from Launceston junction on the A388
Open 9am – 5pm
Cornish for homestead, lake and hill which is exactly where this restaurant and farm shop is on the edge of the Tamar Valley. More restaurant than farm shop you can expect delicious cooked breakfast, afternoon tea, and Sunday roasts. There’s also a great lunch menu which does include sandwiches, expect hot smoked salmon wraps, but when there’s Cornish sardines with aioli or local hake with crushed roast potatoes and greens it’s a tough choice! Impressive cake counter. In the shop you’ll find a deli, butcher and local veg as well as homewares and gifts.
No fuel or EV charging, although plenty of places to stop on the A30.
Don’t leave without beef from the farm itself, at the butchers counter.
