In this month’s blog, we look at some of the best local locations for camping and caravanning connoisseurs.
For a special occasion, why not book a table at the Drewe Arms? An hour’s walk, or a 10 minute drive away in pretty Broadhembury, they offer ‘gastropub’ food in a medieval building. If the weather is fine, the pub also has a lovely, sheltered beer garden with floral borders. They offer sandwich, lunch and evening menus.
Fancy somewhere a bit different? Venture over to Ottery St Mary (25 mins by car). Describing itself as a ‘licensed feasting house’, the Rusty Pig www.rustypig.co.uk puts a real emphasis on sourcing ingredients locally. There’s no standard menu; their dishes change with the seasons, but they specialise in charcuterie and we can highly recommend their fantastic breakfasts.
If seafood is your thing, then you can’t get a dining location much closer to the sea than the Pea Green Boat, on Sidmouth Esplanade (35 mins by car). Try Lyme Bay Hake, Exmouth Mussels or a whole range of fish in their bouillabaisse. The restaurant seats only 30 people, so be sure to book a table.
Fairly new to the High Street in Cullompton, Vitamin Sea has been receiving excellent reviews. Many people comment on the fantastic atmosphere and, whilst the menu focuses on fish, there are also great choices for meat-lovers, vegetarians and vegans alike. They are open Wednesday to Sunday – check the website for times and find them on Facebook to hear about their special themed evenings.
Offering modern food in the traditional setting of an old converted grocer’s shop, The Bakehouse in Cullompton is very popular with locals and visitors alike. The cafe is open 9-5 from Monday to Saturday for cosy and informal breakfasts, morning coffee and lunches. It’s Italian night every Wednesday and the cafe opens as a wine bar with evening dining from Thursday to Saturday.
If you’d prefer to buy your own local produce and cook up a storm back on the park, then the choices are plentiful.
Cullompton has its very own Farmers’ Market, held in the town every second Saturday of the month, with occasional pop-up markets.. They care about where the food is sourced and put every produce on the ‘Food Map’ on their website.
Head over to Topsham (30 mins by car). Not only will you find a range of excellent restaurants and pubs, (for something different, try the Pig and Pallet, a unique smokehouse on Topsham Quay), but also Dart’s Farm. Ostensibly a Farm Shop, it’s actually much more. There are places for the kids to play and explore; a wide range of homewares and gifts; a Cotswold outdoors store; a cafe; fish and chip takeaway and an absolutely fantastic selection of local food and drink.
Greendale at Farringdon (25 mins away on the Exeter to Sidmouth Road) has shelves heaving with exciting ingredients; a huge selection of cheeses; fill-your-own flavoured oils and vinegars; local wines and an amazing fish counter. They serve fresh fish and chips which you can sit and eat on the benches outside – all while watching the ostriches, chickens and other animals gad about.