When you’re on holiday in East Devon it’s great to get out and explore the local area, to find the best attractions, beaches and places to eat. That last one; there’s a lot to tempt you in this part of Devon, within easy reach of our gorgeous holiday cottages here at Stonehayes Farm. From farm shop cafes and country inns to seafront restaurants and gastropubs, join us on a round up of our favourites.
Cafes and Kitchens
Heron Farm, Weston (4.5 miles, 10 minutes)
Heron Farm is well worth a visit when you’re staying at Stonehayes Farm for your family holiday in Devon. The 17 acre working farm has an award-winning vineyard (tours available), a play park the kids will love, orchards where sheep graze happily beneath the trees, a kitchen garden full of produce, a well-stocked farm shop, and a Kitchen serving food from 9am.
Kick start your day with a tasty brunch, served from 9-12; choose from the likes of a classic Heron Farm cooked breakfast, Eggs Royale, Avocado Toast, and Chorizo hash. Let the little ones loose in the play park then go for lunch (12-3); maybe Beer battered fish & chips, Beef stew, Venison burger, or Portobello mushroom. If there’s at least 10 of you, you can pre-order a Group Grazing Board of finger sandwiches, scones, tartlets, quiche and arancini with sides and salads.
And who doesn’t like to tuck into a jolly good afternoon tea? This is such a treat at Heron Farm, with sandwiches, savouries and sweets, washed down with tea or bubbly – well, why not?
Dog friendly.
River Cottage Kitchen, Axminster (14.2 miles, 26 minutes)
Everyone’s heard of River Cottage, so when you’re staying nearby, pop along and see for yourself how good it is. The vibe is very relaxed with indoor and outdoor seating; the sweeping views of the Axe Valley are breathtaking.
River Cottage works closely with local growers, farmers and suppliers so they’re big on what’s seasonal, organic, local and wild. A lot of the produce is grown onsite, eggs, vegetables and meat come from nearby farms, venison and game is from local estates, and fish is fresh off the day boats that work along Lyme Bay and the Cornish coast
Breakfast and brunch are available all day (Bubble & squeak, Barley kedgeree, Eggs Florentine), lunch is served from 12pm (Slow cooked lamb, Carlin pea & cauli curry, Wild garlic pesto pasta), tea and scrumptious homemade cakes are served all day.
For something special, book up for one of the regular Farm to Table Feasts.
Dogs welcome
Otter Valley Ice Cream & Field Kitchen (5.3 miles, 14 minutes)
If you’ve got a thing for ice cream you need to get yourselves down to Otter Valley Ice Cream & Field Kitchen, just a short trip down the road from Stonehayes Farm.
Run by a family in their 4th generation of dairy farming, they diversified into making gelato style ice cream a few years back and now have a huge glass fronted kitchen and outdoor seating area where you can savour the food as well as the spectacular views of the Otter Valley.
Let’s talk about those ice creams first. Made using milk from their own herd that graze in the fields on the farm, this is proper artisan ice cream that comes in so many creative flavours - Madagascan Vanilla, Chocolate, Strawberry, Honeycomb, and seasonal specials like Cream Tea, Ginger & Butternut Squash, and Sea buckthorn.
Go for brekkie from 9am and tuck into The Otter – their version of the English cooked breakfast, or try something else – Shakshouka, Granola bowl, Homemade waffles, or poached eggs on sourdough. For lunch you can have wood fired pizzas, sandwiches, toasties, homemade pancakes, baguettes or burgers.
Dogs allowed in the outside seating area.
Restaurants and Gastro Pubs
The Holt, Honiton (2.4 miles, 8 minutes)
At the bottom of the High Street in Honiton, The Holt is a well known gastropub, restaurant and smokehouse that serves amazing food Wednesday to Sunday. This is definitely one for the foodies, specialising in a British menu with European flavours, showcasing their home smoked fare and the best of local ingredients.
The atmosphere is great and the service is very attentive, so you can hunker down and enjoy lunch, dinner or Sunday roast. They keep the menu small, ensuring uncomplicated dishes with attention to detail and great flavours. Delights on the evening mains include Char-grilled Exmoor venison, Poached fillet of fish, and Sweet potato & spinach curry.
Wednesday night they serve tapas with plenty to choose from including Smoked salmon, rye, red onion, dill pickle and egg, Garlic mushrooms, rocket and toast, Grilled chorizo, bocconcini crisp potato and pumpkin pesto, and Crisp squid rings, lime and chilli.
Dogs are welcome in the bar.
The Pig at Combe, Gittisham (6.8 miles, 14 minutes)
The Pig at Combe is set on a private estate in the beautiful Otter Valley. At the heart of it is an Elizabethan manor house with gorgeous dining rooms, three walled gardens and a rustic outdoor eatery. Interiors are charming, full of character, and so comfortable you’ll want to linger.
Wander round the kitchen gardens where they grow vegetables and herbs, then go inside to discover how it’s all put to good use with other local ingredients. Menus feature lots of fresh local fish, locally reared meats and famous Devon cheeses, changing daily depending on what’s in season and what’s picked in the gardens that morning.
Take your pick from the seasonal Chef’s Menu, the Buttered & Baked teatime menu, or from the 25 Mile Menu that will tempt you with the likes of West Country Shepherd’s Pie with Garden Greens, Dartmoor Chateaubriand with Peppercorn Sauce, South Coast Fillet of Cod with Smoked Roe and BBQ Leeks, or Combe Ricotta Gnocchi ‘0 Mile’ Mushrooms with Wild Garlic & Tarragon Pesto.
Wood fired pizzas are served in the rustic Folly where the vibe is always very relaxed and sometimes there’s live music.
Dogs welcome in The Folly.
Seafront Dining
Dukes Inn, Sidmouth (10.7 miles, 25 minutes)
On the seafront in the Regency town of Sidmouth, Dukes is one of the most popular places to eat in town, renowned for serving award-winning South West sourced food & drink.
On the menu are Starters, Small Plates and Soups (French onion soup, Duck terrine, Grilled goat’s cheese), fish from Brixham (Shell baked scallops, Seafood chowder, Moules Mariniere, Seafood board), and Mains (Fish & chips, Slow braised lamb shoulder, Miso roasted aubergine, Mac & cheese). There are burgers and steaks from the grill, salads, and at lunchtimes, sandwiches and toasties.
Eat inside where it’s light and airy, or out on the patio where it’s more so. Dukes is family friendly and dogs are welcome in the bar and patio area.
Tom’s, Lyme Regis (16 miles, 29 minutes)
Tom’s offers refined dining and views of Lyme Bay from their family run restaurant on the Marine Parade at Lyme Regis. They are passionate about sustainability and all that’s great and good about local food, working with suppliers nearby to showcase the very best of seafood from the waters along the South West coast, meat that’s raised and grazed in the area, and veg that’s sown and grown on the farms. It’s all put to excellent use in recreated classic dishes with a very creative twist.
Tom’s opened in 2020 and within their first year had secured an AA Rosette for Culinary Excellence and a listing in the prestigious Trencherman’s and Hardens food guides.
Mains on the A La Carte menu are mouthwatering just to think about; Trio of Devon lamb, Wild sea bass, Fillet of Dartmoor beef, Monkfish tail satay, Sharpham Park spelt, and Line caught breaded daily catch. Just wait ‘til you taste it!
Sunday Roast is served on Sunday alongside the main menu and there’s a separate menu for children.
Dogs welcome on the terrace.
Riverside Dining
Otterton Mill, Budleigh Salterton (18.4 miles, 30 minutes)
Otterton Mill is such a lovely spot, in a scenic coastal valley, right beside the River Otter. Allow plenty of time, take a stroll along the river or on the South West Coast Path, then go for something to eat.
Otterton Mill is based around an historic working water mill where flour has been ground for over 1,000 years. Nowadays their speciality is stoneground wholemeal flour, put to good use in the artisan bakery, and café-restaurant. There’s also an art gallery and gift shop, and year round events.
They serve lunch, evening meals, award-winning cream teas and delicious cakes and scones, all freshly made using top quality, locally sourced seasonal ingredients. Choose from Ploughmans Platters and wholesome sandwiches, or order one of the chef’s daily specials (Westcountry venison burger, Portobello mushroom filled with Mediterranean vegetables, Pan fried line caught mackerel).
Otterton Mill is open all year, is family friendly and dog friendly, and has wheelchair access.
Country Pubs
The Drewe Arms, Broadhembury (5.9 miles, 13 minutes)
Surrounded by rolling Devon countryside, Broadhembury is a charming village with historic thatched cottages, a beautiful Gothic church, and The Drewe Arms. Family run, the pub dates back to the16th century and has such a lovely cosy atmosphere. There’s a wood-burner for the colder days, and a pretty garden for when the sun is shining.
The head chef is East Devon born and bred and has a huge passion for creating delicious food showcasing the best of local produce. On the lunch menu are hearty mains like Steak and kidney pie, Cider battered fish & chips, and Mushroom and Goats Cheese en croute. If you don’t want such a bellyful, have one of then lighter dishes - Fish Crumble, Three Bean Curry, or a sandwich.
The Drewe Arms is family friendly and dog friendly.
Hare & Hounds, Sidbury (6.1 miles, 12 minutes)
If you like a good carvery, the Hare & Hounds is for you – it’s what they’re known for. The setting is quite incredible, with staggering views down over the Sid valley to the sea. Inside has all the feels of a traditional country pub, with wooden beams and log fires in the colder months; outside there’s a large beer garden with a play area.
Local is a big thing here, with meat and veg coming from local suppliers including farms just a few miles away. Apart from the carvery there’s a lot else to choose from - pub classics, burgers and grills, salads, burritos, sandwiches and jacket potatoes, or call in for a pint of local ale or cider after a walk in the hills or through Knapp Copse Nature Reserve just down the road.
The Hare & Hounds is great for families (there’s a Kids Menu) and is dog friendly.
