Eversfield Organic, a Tavistock Farm Shop, is here to talk about their favourite ways to enjoy the town! They asked our new Regional Farm Shop Manager, Beth Teare, how she loves to spend the day in Tavistock, but they couldn’t help getting all of the Tavistock Farm Shop staff involved! Here’s how the Eversfield Organic Tavistock Farm Shop staff love to spend the perfect day in Tavi…
Q. Tell us a little about Eversfield and what you all love about Tavistock
A. The friendly community spirit of the town drew us to Tavistock. At the Eversfield Organic Tavistock Farm Shop we love getting to know our regular local customers and meeting new ones, serving them a hot drink (for free with purchases over £20) and assisting with all their organic grocery needs. We also love the Pannier Market at the heart of the town and the traditional high street which is filled with local producers and independent businesses. As a small family farm, we felt the supporting local ethos of Tavistock was exactly what we were looking for. Our Shop sits between lots
of fantastic local businesses, from florists to cafés and a varied selection of delicious restaurants.
Tavistock’s sense of community shines through in their community events, which we love getting involved in. Last year, as part of Totally Locally’s Fiver Fest, we joined other businesses in offering customers of our Tavistock Farm Shop a £5 deal on some of their favourite organic goodies. The campaign aims to encourage shoppers back to their high street to boost the wellbeing of our community. We will be bringing back Fiver Fest to our Tavistock Farm Shop this year– keep your eyes peeled for more info soon!
Q. How would you spend a perfect day in Tavistock?
A. As well as local shopping, we also love the steep history of the town. We begin our perfect day by exploring the mining heritage of the area. Many locals refer to Tavistock as the Eastern gateway to Devon and Cornwall’s mining heritage, with parts of the area stretching back over 1000 years. Tavistock’s location on the edge of Dartmoor makes it a great place for some lovely walks. Drake’s Trail is a popular choice amongst our Farm Shop staff, spanning for 21 miles between Tavistock and Plymouth. The trail overlooks stunning scenery including wooded valleys, open moorland and a lot of wildlife (look out for Dartmoor Ponies!).
One of the best things about the trail are the spectacular Isumbard Kingdom Brunel tunnels. These tunnels were created by the engineer to form part of the South Devon and Tavistock railway line. The most impressive tunnel is the Leighbeer Tunnel, nicknamed as “Shaugh Tunnel.” This enormous tunnel near Yelverton is dimly lit with an eerily lower temperature than the outside world.
Next, we love to visit the Harrowbeer Airfield and museum in Yelverton. It’s great for exploring the moor, enjoying a picnic or visiting the ice cream van. The Tavistock Museum is also great as it showcases exhibitions about the monastic, market and mining history of the town. There are also community exhibitions displaying modern interests of the town.
A trip around Tavistock wouldn’t be complete without a riverside stroll. Where the River Tavy meets the River Walkham is a very picturesque place for a walk or picnic. Continuing along the Walkham treats the eyes to more historical archaeology with the lime kiln chimney and the moss covered remains of the industrial landscape.
To conclude the day, we can’t help but head over to the Eversfield Organic Dartmoor Inn for an evening of organic goodness. The organic produce served at the inn is from our farm or a small selection of local producers. The organic food pairs perfectly with a choice of organic ale from the barrel, organic wine, cocktails or soft drinks. The Ox Grill sears grass fed beef to perfection, with wild fish, vegetarian and vegan options available.And of course, it overlooks the beautiful Dartmoor National Park.