On the edge of Exmoor, in the rolling North Devon countryside between Barnstaple and Bratton Fleming, Besshill Farm Shop is a proper farm shop in every sense: rooted in the land, uncompromising on quality and staffed by people who know exactly where every product comes from because many of them have reared, grown or sourced it themselves.
The farm’s own award-winning Limousin beef is a highlight, hung and butchered on site to produce some of the finest steaks, roasting joints and mince in the county. Lamb reared on the farm is sold alongside locally sourced pork and Creedy Carver free-range poultry, and the whole butchery counter is the kind of thing that reminds you what well-reared, properly prepared meat actually tastes like.
Beyond the meat counter, Besshill stocks a well-curated range of local produce including artisan cheeses, luxury chocolates, preserves and seasonal vegetables, all sourced from trusted local suppliers. It is the kind of shop where every product has a story behind it, and where the range changes genuinely with the seasons rather than with the supermarket promotions calendar.
For those staying in self-catering accommodation in North Devon and wanting to eat exceptionally well, a trip to Besshill is an excellent investment. The quality of ingredients you take home will elevate whatever you cook to another level, and knowing exactly where your food has come from adds a dimension to the experience that is hard to put a price on.
Besshill’s farm trail gives the whole experience an educational dimension that younger visitors particularly appreciate, turning a shopping trip into something much more memorable. The team are proud of what they produce and generous with their knowledge. If you want to understand where your food comes from and why that matters, a visit to Besshill is as good an answer as any farm shop in Devon.
Besshill Farm Shop is the kind of place that reminds you why local, independent food producers matter. It is not flashy and makes no attempt to be. What it is, however, is excellent. Open Monday to Saturday and well worth the short drive inland from the coast.
