This year, why not plan the ultimate foodie adventure in Devon – the whole county offers a gastronomic journey combining fresh, seasonal produce, award-winning restaurants, traditional farmers’ markets and of course – the famous Devon cream tea!

Here’s your guide to planning a foodie break in Devon.

Start with a Devonshire Cream Tea

Ignore our friends over the border, the Devonshire way is the only way to enjoy a cream tea and no trip to the West Country is complete without indulging in at least one! Picture yourself savouring warm scones, slathered with clotted cream and topped with a dollop of jam (and remember, it’s cream first in Devon!).

You’ll find cream teas all over the county, some are the traditional using a Devonshire Split rather than a scone; some are instantly recognisable and some are even more indulgent, combining the cream tea with an afternoon tea and swapping out the teapot for a bottle of something sparkly.

One stop on your cream tea tour has to be Tavistock, the home of the cream tea – according to local history, the cream tea as we know it now was created by the monks at the town’s Benedictine Abbey. They would provide workers around the abbey with home made jam, local cream and their own early version of a scone (something that would become a Devonshire split but at the time was known as a Tavy Tuff). These little offerings of food became so popular that visitors to the abbey would also ask for it!

Great places for a cream tea around Devon:

Enjoy a foodie break in Devon this year
Image: Canonteign Falls

 

England’s seafood coast

Devon’s coastline isn’t just a feast for the eyes, but also for the taste buds! The English Riviera, which comprises of Torquay, Brixham and Paignton, is known as England’s Seafood Coast and is famous for a variety of seafood, including Brixham crab.

Whether you want fish and chips on the beach, mussels for a special occasion or to attend a lobster festival, you’ll find it all in Devon.

Top places for seafood around Devon

Farm to table in Devon

Devon isn’t just about those stunning coastlines, there are also acres of farmland and open countryside which provides a host of seasonal produce. You can easily pick up fresh food from the Farmers’ Markets that are held regularly all over the region. You’ll also find that many of the local restaurants and eateries pride themselves on using local ingredients, especially in places like Totnes where sustainability and reducing food miles is high on the agenda.

Great places for local flavours

Enjoy a foodie break in Devon this year
Image: The Pig at Combe 

Local tipples

Everyone knows that the West Country is famous for cider and Devon is no exception, but it isn’t just cider that’s on offer here. You’ll find one of the oldest gin distilleries in the country in Devon and a host of award-winning vineyards. With local tipples on offer at bars and restaurants to pair with your meal, there are plenty of opportunities to savour local flavours or you could book a tour of one of the region’s vineyards or gin distillers and see how your favourite drinks are created.

Top places for a local tipple

Enjoy a foodie break in Devon this year
Image: Alder Vineyard

Food festivals and markets

We’ve mentioned the Farmers’ Markets that take place all over the county but that’s not the only way you can stock up on local produce. Devon hosts a variety of food festivals throughout the year, including the Dartmouth Food Festival and Exeter Food and Drink Festival.

The festivals to keep an eye out for include:

  • England’s Seafood Feast
  • Plymouth Seafood Festival
  • North Devon Foodfest
  • Salcombe Crab Fest
  • Devon Country Show

Enjoy a culinary experience

When it comes to a foodie break, while eating delicious food is important, it isn’t the only thing you can do. In Devon there are several culinary experiences you can enjoy, including making your own gins with Plymouth Gin or joining a class with Ashburton Cookery School.

Alternatively, you can head out to do a spot of fishing or join a foraging tour across Dartmoor or around the coast, where you can gather and cook your own dishes using ingredients you have found in the region’s natural larder.

Enjoy a foodie break in Devon this year
Image: Ashburton Cookery School 

Where to stay for a foodie break

When it comes to a foodie break, many people like to choose a self-catering option so they have more freedom about where they eat and when. It is also helpful if you want to prepare your meals yourself, particularly if you’ve stocked up at a local market or food festival. If you want your meals prepared for you though, here are some of the most popular places to stay for foodies.

Interested in a foodie stay in Devon this year? There are plenty more eateries and places to stay to inspire you – find them here.

All that’s left to do is make your booking, pack your appetite and get ready to explore Devon’s culinary treasures.

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