From service stations to farm shops

If the thought of another crowded service station fills you with dread, you're not alone. From battling for a parking space and queuing for facilities to paying premium prices for uninspiring food, motorway service stations can often feel like the least enjoyable part of any journey.

Instead, why not swap the service station for a farm shop? Offering fresh, local food, a more relaxed atmosphere and plenty of countryside charm, farm shops provide the perfect opportunity to take a break, stretch your legs and make the journey to Cornwall part of the holiday experience itself.

The UK Uncovered – a recent survey of more than 19,000 respondents conducted by holidaycottages.co.uk and promoted by Cornish Horizons – found that 66% of respondents seek out farm shops while on holiday, while 88% said supporting local businesses is important to them. 

In this blog, we aim to highlight farm shops that could make useful stopping points for travellers heading towards Cornwall from different parts of Britain, and turn a necessary journey break into part of the holiday itself. 

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• Top 5 farm shops to consider on the journey to Cornwall
• Top 5 farm shops in Cornwall

Farm shops to consider on the journey to Cornwall 

Travelling from London, Southampton or the East: TEALS Farm Shop 

Photo credit: TEALS Farm Shop

For holidaymakers travelling from London, Southampton, Norwich and parts of the East, TEALS Farm Shop near Wincanton along the A303 is a great place to break up the journey. TEALS is packed with the region’s best producers, including fresh meats from nearby hills and locally churned cheeses. There’s also a bakery, gift shop and kitchen serving up tasty and nutritious plates from across Somerset.

Travelling from Newcastle, Edinburgh or Scotland: Mainsgill Farm Shop 

Photo credit: Mainsgill Farm Shop

For visitors travelling from Newcastle, Edinburgh and parts of the North East, Mainsgill Farm Shop near Richmond provides a stopping point on the A66 leg of the journey south. 

Here, you’ll find a lovely tearoom, newly opened dog-friendly café, butchery, food hall and gift hall stocked full of their own produce alongside the best local and regional suppliers. There are also traditional farm animals on-site, along with several other exotic animals including camels and ostriches.

Travelling from Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds or the North: Essington Farm Shop 

Photo credit: Essington Farm Shop

For travellers taking a route south via the M6 corridor, Essington Farm Shop provides an alternative stopping point to motorway services. Since 1892, Essington Farm has been a family-run gem in the Midlands, offering fresh, seasonal produce, free-range meats, and a welcoming farm shop, café, and pick-your-own fields. They pride themselves on working with trusted local suppliers who share their commitment to quality and freshness.

Travelling from Birmingham, Bristol or South Wales: Darts Farm

Photo credit: Darts Farm

For many travellers coming south via the M5, Darts Farm near Exeter provides one of the most strategically placed farm shop stops before the final leg into Cornwall. The farm shop combines an artisan food hall, numerous restaurants, wellness experiences, and family-friendly outdoor spaces. Darts Farm has also previously won ‘Large Farm Shop of the Year’ at the 2025 Farm Retail Association Awards.

‘Gateway to Cornwall’ for a 2^nd stop: Strawberry Fields 

Photo credit: Strawberry Fields Farm Shop

Located in Lifton, just half a mile off the main A30 and perfectly situated at the gateway into Cornwall, is Strawberry Fields Farm Shop. The farm shop offers a lovely on-site restaurant, a separate café for coffees and cakes, a deli and butchers, and there are farm animals to visit. Strawberry Fields was also named ‘Large Farm Shop of the Year’ at the 2026 Farm Retail Association Awards.

Top 5 farm shops in Cornwall

To achieve our top 5 results, we used research conducted by our sister brand, Cottages & Castles, which analysed over 70 of the UK's best farm shops and assessed businesses on their reputation, food offering and visitor experience. Here's the full methodology.

1. Trevaskis Farm, near Hayle

Set amidst 28 acres of Cornish countryside, Trevaskis Farm near Hayle takes our number one spot in Cornwall. There is a lovely restaurant (with the best range of desserts – you need to see for yourself), food shop, butchers, and pick-your-own on site. 

Emma Lovegrove, a shop assistant at Trevaskis, says, “No perfectly uniform carrots or cucumbers to be found here. Our ethos is to provide real, locally sourced or home-grown, seasonal fruit and vegetables.”

2. Tre, Pol & Pen, near Launceston

Photo credit: Tre, Pol & Pen

Next up, Tre, Pol & Pen near Launceston on the Cornwall/Devon border ranks second. Tre, Pol & Pen is an award-winning farm shop with a deli, butchers, bakery, and much more. There’s also an on-site restaurant serving a range of delicious food using the best local produce whenever possible. They have also previously won ‘South West Farm Shop of the Year’ at the Taste of the West Awards.

3. Boscastle Farm Shop, Boscastle

Photo credit: Boscastle Farm Shop

In third place is Boscastle Farm Shop. Surrounded by farmland and less than 50 metres from the coastal path, the whole concept of Boscastle Farm Shop comes from a passion for great quality local produce and a love of the natural area. There’s an on-site restaurant and farm shop, featuring a butcher, bakery, fresh fruit and vegetables, and much more.

4. Trevathan Farm, near Port Isaac

Photo credit: Trevathan Farm Shop

Another standout farm shop in fourth is Trevathan Farm in St Endellion, near Port Isaac. Trevathan Farm is a wonderful, family-run working farm. There’s a delicious restaurant, farm shop, farm animals, and outdoor play areas, as well as pick-your-own. 

5. Lobb’s Farm Shop, near St Austell

In fifth place and located about a 2.5-mile drive from Mevagissey is Lobb’s Farm Shop. Owned by three brothers, the Lobbs, the farm shop is supplied with produce from their three farms. They pride themselves on their premium Cornish grass-fed beef and lamb, which are home-reared, as well as delicious seasonal vegetables. The vegetables are cut early each day and delivered to the farm shop. You can’t get fresher than that.

Which farm shop are you visiting first?

We’re sure you won’t be disappointed if you visit any of these farm shops – the real question is, which one will you visit first?

The farm shops featured in this blog all celebrate the best of British farming and regional food and drink. From award-winning farm shops and artisan food halls to cafés, restaurants, and family attractions, these businesses play a vital role in supporting local agriculture and allowing visitors to experience the beautiful British countryside.