A Food Lover’s Guide to Devon – Farm Shops, Delis & Local Produce
Devon has always had a strong independent food culture – shaped by small farms, inshore fishing boats, market towns and producers who care more about flavour than scale. For couples staying in the countryside, it’s one of the great pleasures of a Devon break: unhurried mornings, a well-chosen shop, and cooking something wonderful back at the cottage.
This guide brings together some of our favourite food shops across Dartmoor and South Devon – places we return to again and again, and quietly recommend to guests staying at Moorland View. They’re ideal for stocking the fridge, building a simple feast, or picking up something special to enjoy by the fire after a long walk.
Many are within easy reach of North Bovey, making them easy to fold into a relaxed day out rather than a box-ticking itinerary.
For guests staying at Moorland View, we also share the locations of local honesty boxes selling farmhouse bread, fruity preserves, homemade cakes and allotment produce – small, delicious seasonal finds that only locals know about.
Our eating and drinking guide brings together the wider food experience here – from local places to eat to the food extras we arrange for guests.
FARM SHOPS
The Beehive, Chagford
Set in the centre of Chagford, one of Dartmoor’s most characterful market towns, The Beehive Farm Shop & Café pairs a convenient location with a strong emphasis on locally sourced food. The shop stocks fresh produce, local dairy, bread, preserves and artisan treats, much of it supplied by producers from Dartmoor and the surrounding Devon countryside.
Its central position makes it an easy stop while exploring Chagford on foot, with the café providing a relaxed place to pause for coffee or a light bite. Modest in scale but well rooted in the community, it offers a more traditional farm shop experience shaped by local life rather than tourism.
Ullacombe Farm Shop & Café
Set on the edge of Dartmoor near Haytor, Ullacombe Farm Shop & Café is a family-run favourite that has grown from a simple honesty box into a thriving café, farm shop and butchery – all still rooted in its farming origins (the café was once a chicken shed). The shelves are stocked with carefully sourced local produce alongside Ullacombe’s own award-winning jams, baked goods and ready meals, while the café serves generous breakfasts, roasts and homemade classics. With an on-site butchery (see Cox & Laflin, below) and a strong commitment to supporting nearby producers, it’s a warm, unpretentious stop that celebrates Devon food done properly.
Dart’s Farm, Topsham
Often described as a “Selfridges food hall in the middle of a farm”, Dart’s Farm has become a South West institution. Its standout is the Fish Shed – part restaurant, part fishmonger – where the fish has usually been landed that very morning. It’s a brilliant stop if you’re heading east or pairing food shopping with a gentle day out.
Ben’s Farm Shop
A perfect stop off on a trip to the South Coast, Ben’s Farm shop is guided by a clear commitment to to good farming. Produce is sourced locally first, with a strong emphasis on organic and no-spray fruit and vegetables, high-welfare, outdoor-reared meat, and close relationships with trusted farmers and producers. Decisions are shaped by care for people, animals and the environment – avoiding airfreighted goods, GMOs and unethical supply chains, reducing waste where possible, and paying staff and suppliers fairly. It’s a thoughtful, transparent approach that prioritises integrity and value over profit, while supporting a resilient local food economy.
BUTCHER
Cox and Laflin, Bovey Tracey
A traditional Dartmoor butcher with impeccable local sourcing and full traceability. Ideal for picking up exceptional meat to cook simply back at the cottage.
FISHMONGERS & COASTAL FLAVOURS
Gibson’s Fish Van, Moretonhampstead & Chagford
Fresh fish bought daily from Brixham’s inshore boats, meaning the selection changes constantly – part of the charm. It’s one of the best ways to eat fish in Devon if you enjoy cooking what’s truly in season. We share timings in our guest guide.
The Fish Deli, Ashburton
A small but excellent shop selling River Teign mussels, diver-caught scallops and smoked fish, surrounded by other independent food spots that make Ashburton a rewarding town to browse.
DELICATESSENS & STORE-CUPBOARD ESSENTIALS
Blacks, Chagford
A proper village deli packed with Devon cheeses, chutneys, granola, smoked fish and local drinks – ideal for putting together an easy lunch or indulgent supper.
Zero, Moretonhampstead
This not-for-profit shop in Moretonhampstead offers organic bulk whole foods, household refills and eco-friendly bathroom and kitchen essentials, alongside a small, well-chosen range of gifts, toys and cards. Thoughtfully run and rooted in zero-waste principles, it rewards a slower, more considered approach to shopping and cooking – and sits just a five-minute drive from Moorland View.
WINE MERCHANTS
Jaded Palates, Chagford
Jaded Palates is a carefully curated wine shop built on the belief that drinking less should mean drinking better. Every bottle is tasted and selected for quality and value, with a deliberately small, thoughtful range that removes guesswork and encourages discovery beyond the familiar. Expect interesting, well-priced wines you may not recognise, clear guidance without snobbery, and genuinely personal recommendations shaped around what you enjoy drinking. Practical touches – from straightforward ordering and reliable delivery to flexible options for larger gatherings – make it a refreshingly relaxed place to buy wine, guided by integrity.
CHEESEMONGERS
The Cheese Shed, Bovey Tracey
Founded in 2006 by Ian Wellens and James Mann, The Cheese Shed is dedicated to showcasing the very best artisan cheeses from the Westcountry. With a clear focus on small-scale, quality-led producers, the range highlights distinctive regional cheeses that are often hard to find elsewhere. Now based in Bovey Tracey with both a physical shop and a mail-order business, The Cheese Shed combines deep local knowledge with thoughtful service, built on long-standing relationships with makers and a genuine passion for great cheese.
Hungry for more ideas?
One of the joys of staying somewhere like Moorland View is having the time and space to enjoy Devon’s food properly – cooking at your own pace, eating by candlelight, or lingering over breakfast with ingredients sourced just a few miles away. We share little-known gems and shopping tips privately with guests.
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