• Accommodation in three-star holiday cottages with a help-yourself continental breakfast
• Three 3-course dinners in the cottages
• Two 2-course dinners in pubs/restaurants
• Lunches each day
• Services of guides
• All transportation within the tour
• Visits to producers, specialist retailers and food demonstrations.
Alcoholic drinks are not included; the cottages do not have a licenced bar nor is there one in walking distance. If you require wine, beer etc please bring it with you, although there will be opportunities to stock up as we tour around.
(As all our visits are to small producers we may sometimes need to change the order of the itinerary to fit in with their schedules.)
Sunday
Late afternoon We will meet you at the cottages in the late afternoon. Guests without their own transport can be collected from Exeter train station or airport at an additional charge.
Dinner using local ingredients provided at the cottages.
MondayA help-yourself breakfast provided in the cottages using local ingredients.
Morning You are collected by coach and taken up to the north Devon coast for a fish-based morning under the guiding hand of a very knowledgeable fishmonger. He will talk about the different types of fish available and then demonstrate filleting and fish preparation and tasting. He and the guests will then cook their fish lunc .
Afternoon In the afternoon we will visit a vegetable and beef farm where the owners will show us how they choose the best varieties, deal with pests, storage, picking etc. (We will get to taste their produce at dinner).
Evening Dinner at a local pub which uses good local produce.
A help-yourself breakfast provided in the cottages using local ingredients.
Morning In the morning we will visit Hatherleigh market, a real traditional agricultural market which is a lively and noisy mix of local produce, farmers’ supplies, poultry and plant auctions with a junk auction thrown in. Hatherleigh is a lovely old medieval town (the size of a large village) and guests can explore its winding streets and church.
Afternoon After lunch in a renowned village pub which oozes character, we will drive through the beautiful west Devon countryside to a local butchers where the farmer/owner and the butcher will talk about animal farming and demonstrate the different cuts of meat, both old fashioned and new. There will be an opportunity to buy local products such as chutneys, jams etc from the shop.
Evening Dinner using local ingredients provided at the cottages.
A help-yourself breakfast provided in the cottages using local ingredients.
Morning We will spend the morning at a small farm which produces rare breed sheep, pigs and poultry, both for the table and for breeding stock. This is a chance to get close to the animals under the guidance of experts. The owners will endeavour to time hatching of chicks to coincide with our visit. The farm is also involved in an important breeding programme for endangered water voles. We will lunch at the farm eating food produced there.
Afternoon This afternoon’s food demonstration will concentrate on that most English of meals: tea. An expert baker will show guests how to make a range of typical and tempting tea goodies, which we will have for tea!
Evening We will eat out tonight at a good local restaurant
A help-yourself breakfast provided in the cottages using local ingredients.
Morning A cheese morning with a tasting and talk by a specialist cheesemonger who knows every local cheese producer in the west country. There will also be an opportunity to explore the ancient market town of Tavistock with its abbey ruins and lively market.
Afternoon Lunch will be taken in s delightful café which prides itself on only using the best of local ingredients in the most creative ways. Their salads are particularly gorgeous. Stopping off on the way at a small isolated medieval church, we will visit a cider-makers who will give us a tour of the presses and talk about their craft. There will be a chance to taste the end-product.
Evening Dinner using local ingredients provided at the cottages.
A help-yourself breakfast provided in the cottages using local ingredients.
Morning In the morning we have got the most stupendous cook to show how to make the best of some the ingredients seen this week. The demonstration will culminate with a 2 course lunch and we will break for coffee and cake mid-morning.
After lunch guests will return to the cottages to collect their cars or be dropped off at the station/airport.
Some single rooms are available; please ring or email for rates.
Two dates are available for Autumn 2009:
Sunday 27th September - Friday 2nd October
Sunday 18th October - Friday 23rd October
As the Spring 2009 dates are imminent payment is required in full at the time of booking. A full refund will be given if you cancel up to three weeks before the start of the tour. We therefore suggest that you take out travel insurance. For availability, to book, or for any queries do get in touch either by email or phone and we will be happy to help. Payment can be made via Paypal (where you can use your credit/debit card) or a cheque to Livingstone Colbourne.