My research trips for The Foodie Travel Guide often take me down the M5 or along country and coastal roads en route to Devon and Cornwall. If you’re travelling down to the West Country for the half term holidays, here are my top 10 favourite lunch stops, all worthy of a detour. Be warned – they’re popular, so booking is highly recommended.
1. Yeo Valley Canteen
Rhodyate, Blagdon, North Somerset, BS40 7YE
Eat with Yeo Valley employees in the quirky and fun Yeo Valley Canteen in Blagdon. The food is great, the view is glorious and you can head off on your journey with tasty pots of creamy Yeo Valley yogurt, cream, keffir and ice cream along with butter and freshly baked sourdough bread.
Get there: M5 North, Junction 21 (and London M4 Via Junction 18 interchange), M5 South, Junction 22.
2. Gloucester Services
Brookthorpe, Gloucester, Gloucestershire, GL4 0DN
If only all services stations in Britain were like this one. Gloucester Services serves local, seasonal and home-cooked produce. If you’re off to stay in a self catering cottage for the week, stock up here on supplies from their Farm Shop with its own butcher’s counter and products from over 130 local suppliers.
Get there: M5, Between Junction 12 and 11a
3. The Ethicurean at Barley Wood Walled Garden
Long Lane, Wrington, Bristol, BS40 5SA
The Ethicurean restaurant at Barley Wood Walled Garden in Wrington serves delicious field to fork lunches and amazing cakes. The setting is peaceful, beautiful and guaranteed to energise you for the next leg of your journey
Get there: M5, Exit Junction 21 North or Junction 20 South
4. The Swan at Wedmore
Cheddar Road, Wedmore, BS28 4EQ
The Swan at Wedmore is a lovely and tastefully restored old village pub with rooms. The kitchen is led by Tom Blake from River Cottage who produces colourful and perfectly dressed seasonal salads and possibly the best chips cooked in truffle oil I’ve ever eaten.
Get there: M5, Exit Junction 22
5. At The Chapel
High Street, Bruton, Somerset BA10 0AE
At The Chapel is a restaurant with rooms in a Grade II listed former chapel. Delicious pizzas cooked in a wood-fired oven are popular in the all-day restaurant. If you can’t get a table, pop in for a takeaway or phone ahead.
Get there: Bruton is on the A359. Accessed from London and the east via M3 and A303. From the west via A303. From the north via M5.
6. Roth Bar & Grill, Hauser & Wirth
Roth Bar & Grill, Hauser & Wirth, Durslade Farm, Dropping Lane, Bruton, Somerset BA10 0NL
A working beef farm, Hauser and Wirth in Bruton is also a world class art gallery with landscaped gardens. The restaurant is open all day and there’s a swanky bar.
Get there: Bruton is on the A359. Accessed from London and the east via M3 and A303. From the west via A303. From the north via M5.
7. Hive Beach Cafe
Beach Road, Burton Bradstock, Nr Bridport, Dorset DT6 4RF
If you’re taking the coastal road to Devon, a stop off at the Hive Beach Cafe in Burton Bradstock for fish and chips is a must. I also like their sister cafe, The Watch House Cafe at West Bay which is great for a cup of tea, a slice of cake and a bracing walk along the beach to revive your spirits.
Get there: Just off the A35 near Bridport.
8. River Cottage Canteen & Deli
Trinity Square, Axminster EX13 5AN
Stop for coffee and cake or a leisurely lunch at Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s restaurant in Axminster. The Deli sells a good selection of West Country produce.
Get there: In the centre of Axminster
9. Darts Farm
Topsham, Exeter, Devon EX3 0QH
One of Devon’s most popular foodie destinations, award-winning Darts Farm has it all – farm shop, restaurant, fish shed (serving fish and chips fresh from the boat), specialist cider shop and an excellent selection of wine.
Get there: M5, Exit Junction 30
10. Riverford Field Kitchen
Wash Farm, Buckfastleigh, Devon TQ11 0JU
The Field Kitchen, Riverford Farm’s Restaurant, is one of the best in the country. A communal dining experience on the farm with vegetables straight from the fields. Fantastic and very filling!
Get there: Between Exeter and Plymouth. Exit the A38 at Buckfastleigh and take at A384 towards Totnes.
The Foodie Travel Guide
Sally is the founder and editor of The Foodie Travel Guide. She travels around the UK and beyond in search of the best foodie days out, tasting experiences and delicious places to stay. She loves a glass of English sparkling wine, afternoon tea with friends and escaping London for gastronomic adventures.