Haywood Farm Cider

The first thing that hits you at Haywood Farm Cider is the smell - proper West Country orchard, crushed apples, and honest work. This isn't some polished cidery in an old barn conversion. It's a working farm near Egloshayle where they've been pressing cider the way it should be done, and they let you watch the whole thing happen.

You get to see the apples come in, get pressed, ferment in barrels that have been doing this job for years. The staff actually know what they're talking about - not just the tasting notes, but why they pick certain varieties, how the weather affects the crop, that sort of thing. The tasting itself is generous and honest. None of that wine-snobbery nonsense.

It's best suited to cider enthusiasts and anyone who appreciates seeing food and drink made properly rather than performed for Instagram. Kids might find it a bit slow unless they're already into farming or fermentation. Allow a couple of hours if you want to do it properly and have a few tastes without rushing.

The beauty of staying at one of the nearby parks - Camp De Lank or St Minver are both within a short drive - is that you're based in proper cider country. Haywood Farm makes sense as a half-day activity when you're exploring the North Cornwall coast or using the Bodmin area as your base. It's the kind of place that rewards curiosity and rewards going in without huge expectations.