When it comes to food and drink, we should all be doing what we can that’s best for us and best for the planet. We should be eating the best quality fresh foods we can, which goes hand in hand with supporting local businesses, producers and growers. No air miles, a much reduced carbon footprint, a strong community focus and nutritious food.
Wouldn’t it be great if we could all shop at farm shops for local food all of the time? But it’s not always easy because we all have busy lives and for most people, a big shop once a week fits in better with work and school and all the other aspects of family life.
When you’re on holiday it’s different. It’s an opportunity to slow down, to slack off from the hectic pace and take the time to discover new things. When you’re staying away from home you inevitably support the local area by eating out and visiting attractions, and you can do so by buying your food from local farm shops. If you’re staying in Wiltshire, the chances are there’s one within a few miles of your holiday cottage; repurposed barns or bespoke timber framed buildings stacked to the rafters with delicious delights grown and sown, raised and grazed or made in the area. Grass fed meats for the barbecue or Sunday roast, fresh fruit for breakfast, daily baked bread and pastries, locally pressed apple juice and cider, and everything else you need to eat well on your holiday. Here’s our round up of farm shops in Wiltshire for the tastiest tucker, the nicest nosh in the county.
White Row Farm, Beckington, Frome
A little cheat here as Beckington is officially in Somerset, but we thought we’d allow it as the village boundary forms part of the Wiltshire border! The family who run White Row Farm Shop have been farming here for over 40 years; they have fields full of produce, raise pigs and cattle and have over 800 hens, which means a whole lot of eggs – and it’s all chemical free, sold and used only at the farm shop and the ever popular café.
Proudly supporting over 80 artisan suppliers throughout the West Country, as well as the well-stocked farm shop, onsite are a fishmonger, deli, gift shop, florists, fish and chip shop, and play areas.
The Three Daggers Farm Shop, Edington, Westbury
Fill your bags and your bellies, stop to try the beer and ale that’s made in the onsite brewery. The oak beamed Three Daggers Farm Shop is a treasure house of all that’s good and local; freshly baked bread, a mouthwatering selection of cheeses, newly laid eggs, fresh seasonal veg, top quality meat, and everything you might need for your store cupboard. A lot of the fruit, veg, salad and herbs come from the farm less than a mile away.
Browse the handcrafted artworks, jewellery, gifts and garden things, stop for coffee and bakes on the terrace.
Hartley Farm Shop, Bradford on Avon
Hartley Farm is in its 5th generation now – farmers who staunchly champion fresh seasonal food, sustainability and a strong community ethos. If they don’t raise, grow or make it here, they source it as close to home as they can. The result is an award-winning farm shop and kitchen stacked to the rafters with the best of local and regional delights. Among them are their own homegrown organic vegetables, their 100% grass fed Hereford beef and grass-fed lamb from a neighbouring farm; most of the produce in the bakery is homemade to eat in or takeaway, pizzas are cooked daily on the wood fired oven.
There’s also a gift barn on site, so allow time for a browse.
Poulshot Farm Shop, Poulshot, Devizes
Milk from their own dairy, honey produced on the farm, beef that’s been raised and grazed on the natural pastures right here. Poulshot Lodge Farm has been in the hands of the same family since 1963, sticking to their ethos of supporting local businesses to produce and sell the best quality seasonal produce. Bread is collected every day from the bakers in town – choose from a selection of West Country cheeses to go with it, wash it down with craft cider or beer from Wiltshire breweries.
Allington Farm Shop, Chippenham
Award-winning Allington Farm Shop was set up way back in 1981; the family who run it are in their 3rd generation now, working hard on the farm behind the shop, where most of the meat is reared on grass and homegrown cereals. They strongly believe we should all be eating good quality food that's grown, raised or produced locally, so in line with that they have an in-house butchery, a deli and a produce section that sells just about everything you can think of – plenty of fresh fruit and veg, freshly baked bread and pastries, artisan drinks and a good selection of West Country cheeses and preserves.
Ansty PYO and Farm Shop, Ansty, Salisbury
You know it’s fresh as a daisy when you can pick your own; at Ansty PYO and Farm Shop they grow fruit including strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, blackcurrants and gooseberries, so go fill those punnets. Then see what takes your fancy in the shop, from local meats, fresh veg, dairy produce and free range eggs to bread and cakes, jams and chutneys, homemade soups and craft drinks. Have a bite to eat in the tearoom and browse the basketware, cards and gifts.
Newton Farm Shop, Newton St Loe, Bath
This family run farm has been going for 4 generations now and has diversified to showcase the abundance of local produce in this area by adding a farm shop and café, and hosting regular events. Whatever you want, it’s here – there’s a dairy, deli, butchery, bakery, pantry, and on Wednesdays, fresh fish. Add to that locally grown flowers and gifts and there’s every chance you’ll leave Newton Farm Shop with a bootful of bootiful bounty!
Plank’s Farm Shop, Lydeway, Devizes
Appropriately based at The Old Potato Yard, Plank’s Farm Shop has an array of fresh local produce, bread from a nearby bakery and store cupboard stocks from artisan makers. They have an excellent reputation for their made on the farm range that includes pies, quiches, ready meals, soups, salads and cakes and desserts, all made with love by the chefs in the onsite kitchen using ingredients from the shop. In the yard there are homewares, clothes, antiques and a working blacksmith’s forge, so do pop in while you’re here.