Farm Shops Of The Week

Visit one of these gourmet farm shops and you'll never enter a supermarket again, says Andy Lynes

The mother of all farm shops, Chatsworth House farm shop in Bakewell, Derbyshire (01246 583392; chatsworth-house.co. uk) sells beef and lamb from its estate farms. Open Mon-Sat, 9am-5.30pm, Sun, 11am-5pm.

Daylesford Organics near Kingham in Gloucestershire (01608-731 700; daylesfordorganic.com) offers Organic cheeses made in the creamery next door. Open Mon-Sat, 9am-5pm, Sun 10am-4pm.

Watch the Jersey cows being milked at Middle Farm in Firle, Lewes, East Sussex (01323 811411; middlefarm. com) then buy a pint in the shop that also stocks 20 varieties of sausage and unusual local cheeses. Open daily, 9.30am-5.30pm.

The Farm Shop at Castle Howard in York (01653-648 444; castlehoward.co.uk) won "The Taste of Yorkshire" for its estate and regionally sourced produce. Open daily 10am-5pm.

Secretts Farm Shop in Godalming, Surrey (01483 520500; secretts.co.uk), sells herbs, fruit and vegetables along with 300 varieties of cheese from around the UK. Open Mon-Sat, 9am-5.30pm, Sun 11am-4.30pm.

Darts Farm in Topsham, Exeter, Devon (01392 878200; dartsfarm.co.uk) is home to a whole shopping village. Open Mon-Sat, 8am-5.30pm, Sun, 10am-4.30pm.

Ardalanish Organic Farm on the Isle of Mull (01681 700265; ardalanishfarm.co.uk) raises herds of ancient breed Kyloe cattle and Hebridean sheep to produce its much sought-after organic beef and mutton. Open 9am-5pm.

Meanwood Valley Urban Farm in Leeds (0113-262 9759) conserves endangered breeds of sheep, pigs and cattle and sells its own vegetables. Open daily 10am-4pm. Phone for produce availability.

Andy Lynes is UK manager of gastro-website eGullet.org