A Quintessential British Food Dispute: The Cream Tea Conundrum Over the years I have written a great many articles about the classic Engish cream tea - mainly based on the big row that goes on between Devon and Cornwall concerning whether it’s cream or jam first? It’s all a bit silly really - something made up by journalists like me who needed good stories and head-lines during the slack period of high summer. In my Hesp Out West series in the Western Morning News and Western

Why Don't We Have a Strong Foraging Tradition in Britain? There’s a deep-seated mystery hiding in the landscapes of this country that I’d love to have explained one day. It’s this: why don’t we have an ancient rural tradition that sees ordinary citizens gleaning food for free in the countryside? We nibble at the edges, yes, but we don’t really go anywhere near the idea that, if necessary, rural-dwellers could sustain life and soul by foraging among the woodlands and hedgerows

Rushy Porth: One of the Whitest Beaches In South West UK One of the whitest, most beautiful beaches to be found anywhere is Rushy Porth on the eastern shore of the island of Tresco. On a bright day you need ski goggles just to walk across it, the sand is so white – but here and there the whiteness is punctuated by that natural treasure trove of all beaches, a scattering of shells. The Irresistible Beauty of Seashells on the Isles of Scilly Why do we like shells so much? After

Indulging in Indulgence Catering : A Culinary Gem in West Cornwall Private Chef Experiences in Cornwall That Feel Like Home In another article ( https://www.martinhespfoodandtravel.com/hespfoodandtravelhome/the-fallen-angel-a-luxury-hideaway-above-mousehole-cornwall) we describe a stay at the Fallen Angel, an amazing architect-designed holiday villa in Mousehole, West Cornwall - and in it we mention that while there we enjoyed a fabulous dinner delivered and cooked on the sp

The Fallen Angel : A Luxury Hideaway Above Mousehole, Cornwall A Cornish Holiday Invitation That’s Hard to Refuse Here’s an invitation few could resist: “Why don’t you and your wife try out a beautiful little hideaway property for two, perched above a famous Cornish fishing village? When you’re there we’ll cook you a meal so memorable, you’ll be talking about it for months!” Okay, I’m in. Who wouldn’t be? Controversy Versus Reality: Is the Fallen Angel an Eyesore? Oh… until y

Authentic Italian Cuisine at Masseria Il Frontoio, Puglia Slow Food, Farm-to-Table Dining, and True Puglian Hospitality I’m in the mood to talk about proper Italian food. Partly thanks to an old Rick Stein programme I’ve ust watched. Not just any Italian food, but the kind that makes you want to pack your bags and head straight for the heel of Italy's boot. I'm referring to Masseria Il Frontoio , a place that's not just a restaurant—it is something of a shrine to the Slow Foo

Easter Food Traditions: Lamb, Eggs, and the Easter Bunny The Exmoor Mystery: The Lamb Of God There's an Exmoor tradition which, in days of yore, would see the people of the high lonely villages climbing Dunkery at Easter in the hopes of seeing the Lamb Of God. Now, I'm not exactly sure what the Lamb Of God is, but I do know that Exmoor's highest hill was venue for this phenomenon and that there is a place called Easter Hill on the flanks of the great furzy down. I've always u

Exploring Malmö, Sweden: A Scandinavian Gem Just Minutes from Copenhagen Malmö is in Sweden—but it is what you could call a cross-border destination. That’s because the region encompassing both Malmö and Copenhagen sometimes markets itself as a single, seamless travel experience. At least, that was what happened a few years ago when I was planning a press trip to Copenhagen and I was put up in Malmo. And why not? With one of the most efficient train services in the world conn

Discover Cornwall Beyond the Beaches: A Hidden Gem Walk Through the Luxulyan Valley Cornwall may be famed for its sun-drenched beaches and dramatic coastlines, but inland lies a different kind of beauty—one that's mysterious, lush, and steeped in history. If you’re seeking a truly immersive walking experience in Cornwall away from the crowds, the Luxulyan Valley walk delivers peace, heritage, and natural splendour in equal measure. The Luxulyan Valley Walk: A Hidden Treasure

Have you watched the new Netflix mini-series La Palma? It’s a show that is highly likely to put thousands of people off visiting this most beautiful of islands. . Yes, there is a volcano threat, and that could cause a giant landslide into the ocean resulting in the biggest tsunami ever seen, but why let that put you off? It is one of the most dramatically scenic islands I have ever visited… Here’s a travel piece I wrote after staying there 20 long years ago… The massive backb

We were in St Ives recently, staying at the impressive Treloyhan Manor , which is part of the Carbis Bay Estate - and I was remembering the first time I wrote about the town just over a quarter of a century ago. I have put the article up here because, in some ways, it now acts almost as a historic document. St Ives has changed quite a bit since I went there for my Hesp’s Harbours series, which appeared in the Western Morning News for a whole year. The Magic of St Ives , Cor

Cornwall Road Trip Delights: Award-Winning Beers, Butchers, and Harbour-Side Sourdough Pizzas We are creatures of habit, and one example we discussed recently in these pages is the regular port of call people make when they are travelling to certain places. I mentioned calling into Appledore on a drive back from Cornwall. If I’m going the other way I’ll often make a point of leaving the A30 at Launceston so that I can visit the truly excellent Philip Warren butchers’ emporium

The Joy of Jersey Royals: Spring’s First Great Harvest Cornish Earlies will be with us soon, offering their own delightful contribution to the new potato season. But in the meantime, a kind soul from the Channel Islands has sent me a generous bag of Jersey Royals — a potato which many would describe as the king of spring spuds. Not that I need to try them, of course. I buy them the moment they appear each year. Jersey Royals have a special place in the British culinary calen

Discover Le Marche: Italy’s Underrated and Unspoiled Gem And so to Le Marche, one of Italy’s least spoilt and most beautiful regions. The Chianti-shire effect has yet to spread its posh English roots across the Apennine Mountains that cut a lofty strip down the peninsula’s spine, so you really do get an Italy that feels, tastes and sounds like it should. Exploring the Landscape of Le Marche: From Coast to Mountains From the narrow coastal plain, the land rises first gently, t

Warm Weather Awakens the UK’s Only Venomous Snake As spring sunshine begins to warm the West Country, adders—the UK’s only native venomous snake—are stirring from their winter slumber. Sightings have already been reported across local hills and heathlands. But despite these appearances, experts are concerned about the species’ long-term future. A few years ago I wrote the following two articles all about adders in the English hills. Adder Decline: A Growing National Concern C

Why Wild Garlic is the Star of Spring 2025 I know we’ve talked about the virtues of wild garlic before in these pages, but I’m going to do it again because this really is a fantastic year for the stuff. Moreover, I have recently learned to enjoy the value of a simple wild garlic omelette. Fresh eggs, a few of the pungent leaves finely chopped, a touch of salt and pepper and a generous dollop of butter. Nothing could be easier – a great way to start the day… Foraging Wild Garl

Discover a stunning spring walk in the Quantock Hills AONB With Easter arriving this month, now’s the perfect time to extol the virtues of staying at home — especially if your home patch happens to be the West Country. Easter falls late this year, and if the weather is even halfway decent, West Country roads will be heaving with holiday traffic. So, what better time to enjoy the pleasures of your local area? And what a patch we have. I’ve just spent a lovely weekend in West C

Discover the Real Lanzarote: A Walking Holiday Beyond the Resorts The name Lanzarote used to be a byword for lobster-red sunburns, cold beer, and all-inclusive package holidays. And while those sun-drenched escapes still exist, anyone who visits this extraordinary Canary Island and ignores its wild natural beauty is missing out on something truly special. Lanzarote is like nowhere else on Earth. In parts, it resembles the Moon—stark, surreal, and utterly compelling. For more

A Food Lover’s Paradise in the Atlantic Imagine an archipelago of sun-kissed islands surrounded by clear, warm waters teeming with marine life. A place where the climate is so mild and fertile that nearly anything can grow. This is the Isles of Scilly , a destination that’s not just a natural paradise but increasingly, a gourmet one. For years, this potential wasn’t fully realised — but all that is changing. Food and drink on Scilly is undergoing a remarkable renaissance, pla

Discover Local Food and Drink Producers in the Isles of Scilly Imagine a place in the British Isles that boasts not only an unusual number of local food and drink producers, but individuals who are all very much in touch with the natural environment which surrounds them. It’s a little corner of heaven where you are likely to come across artisan producers down most leafy lanes and around every hedgerow. All of them are making delicious forms of food and drink, and all of it is