A Tasty Tour of England helping you choose your lodge holiday

If you think finding somewhere entertaining, discovering new foods and history, and relaxing, would be biting off more than you can chew – don't worry, because this list has all that dished up for you!

A Tasty Tour of England helping you choose your lodge holiday

West Country

Clotted Cream and Cornish Pasties

Supposedly, clotted cream was created by 11th century Benedictine Monks at Tavistock Abbey in Devon, rivalry with Cornwall aside, I will say Devon might just be the better place to visit if you’re looking for guiltless indulgence in the particularly rich cream. Not only can you visit the stunning ruins of the monastery that (allegedly) started the cream tea, but with two national parks, this English staple can also be enjoyed at the peak of beautiful views!

Cornwall undeniably wins when it comes to Southern pies, with its Cornish Pasty having been a staple for centuries. You can enjoy it on the beach, on a seal safari boat, and especially at the annual World Pasty Championships hosted at the Eden Project, which will have pasties that are impossible to beat elsewhere!

Somerset

Cheddar Cheese and Scrumpy Cider

If you’re staying in Somerset, Cheddar Gorge is a must for cheese-lovers. You can either do the tour experience offered by Cheddar Gorge Cheese Company, where not only do you get the chance to watch the making of this iconic British cheese, you can taste the various ones on offer – so you’ll know exactly what to pick up from their shop!

Alternatively, challenge yourself with a hike to the caves, surrounded by the dramatic cliffs! Cheddar is full of charming pubs and cafes; Cafe Gorge is right next to the cheese shop, using only the best cheddar to make delicious sandwiches that are perfect for hungry hikers (or the devoted cheese connoisseur!).

You can wash that sandwich down with more local produce: on the Somerset menu you’ll find artisan ciders and scrumpies (Cafe Gorge has cheddar farmhouse scrumpy)! Scrumpy was traditionally made out of ‘windfall’ apples (preventing unripe fruit from going to waste), but now it can be found in all its different varieties across Somerset due to the county's perfect climate for apple orchards. Sweet, dry, sparkling, flavoured… there's an apple for every eye in Somerset!

Midlands

Bakewell Tarts and Melton Mowbray Pies

Just like fallen apples, happy accidents are found everywhere: allegedly, the Cherry Bakewell Tart was created in the 19th century, when local landlady Mrs Greaves spread almond paste onto

a jam tart instead of putting it in the pastry. So instead of grabbing the old Mr. Kipling from Tesco, why not make this tart an excuse to book a lodge in the midlands, and treat yourself to an authentic Bakewell tart – the cherry on top of a Midland getaway!

Pre-dessert, you could head over to Melton Mowbray to try their esteemed pie. Ye Olde Pork Pie Shoppe of Melton Mowbray stakes claim to being the finest of them all; the bakery has been standing since 1851, when John Dickinson, grandson of Mary Dickinson (who invented the distinctly shaped pie), opened his own shop and was the first to sell them! They offer a lunchtime tasting experience, where you can try all their pies and accompaniments.

Northumberland

Kippers

In Northumberland, you’ll find the nutrient-rich kippers! Herrings are split in half, gutted, salted, smoked, and then eaten warm, paired with some heavily buttered bread, they make a delicious savoury breakfast. They’re attributed to the beautiful town of Seahouses, which is the perfect place to visit and try locally smoked kippers and then enjoy one of their numerous attractions and amusements!

Not to mention, Seahouses is the best place to get a boat out to the Farne Islands and see the incredible wildlife!

The Lake District

Cumberland Sausage and Sticky Toffee Pudding

For the only protected sausage in the game, staying in the dazzling Lake District will mean you’ll get to try the PGI “Traditional Cumberland Sausage”, as though many are sold under the name, there’s only one place where you can get the real deal. This perfectly seasoned sausage from a local butcher makes for the ideal night in treat while relaxing in a quiet lodge by one of many serene lakes.

Thankfully after a savoury grill, Cumbria has ample sweet treats on offer – including the delicious Sticky Toffee Pudding. Visit the Cartmel Sticky Toffee Pudding Company, where the proof really is in the pudding: made from only local ingredients and a whole lot of love for this dessert, this village is a treat for the eyes as much as for the stomach!