9 of the best farm shops in Dorset

Dorset is arguably most famous for the sweeping honeyed sands and dramatic rock formations of the Jurassic Coast. Look a little inward, though, and you’ll find the chalk hills of the Dorset Downs, salt-sprayed pastures, and verdant river valleys.

It all contributes to a rich and varied larder of produce which, along with creative makers, keeps the county’s farm shops well stocked.

From tiny, tucked-away gems to bigger operations, here’s our pick of some of the best farm shops in Dorset worth seeking out.

1. Modbury Farm Shop

Location: Burton Bradstock

Shop hours: 9am to 6pm Monday to Saturday, 10am to 4pm Sunday

Surrounded by pastures and housed in an old shippon, or cattle shed, Modbury Farm Shop is all about celebrating everything fresh, local and organic.

Owners Lucinda and Tim Ackland go by the philosophy of ‘Lensomy’, a Sanskrit word meaning unconditional love – and say they only stock what they love, from how it tastes to the ethos of the suppliers.

Some of the produce filling the shelves comes from this farm, including cuts of beef from cow reared here and fresh eggs from their hens. You’ll also find freshly baked bread, sustainably farmed meats, and brands from the area and wider southwest.

They also deliver locally, offering cheese and fresh meat boxes and hampers – though this is the kind of farm shop you’ll want to visit. Just allow plenty of extra browsing time.

2. Pamphill Dairy

Location: Wimborne

Shop hours: 9am to 4.30pm, Monday to Sunday

The best farm shops offer more than just a place to get some lovely fresh bread and veggies – they’re worthy of a day out in themselves.

Pamphill Dairy is one of those. It was named one of the UK’s best farm shops in a 2024 list by the Times newspaper, which called out its impressive array of produce from local cheeses to treats like biscuits and fudge.

You’ll find an onsite butchery stocked with meats from the farm and other local suppliers, and a shop with a veritable rainbow of seasonal veg, fresh eggs, baked goods and a thoughtfully curated selection of snacks, condiments and foodie gifts. 

One of many lovely touches is the filling station, stocked with milk, cereals and flours.

Attached Parlour Café is lovely, too, serving hearty breakfasts and lunches and a daily afternoon tea. The latter, which must be booked at least a day in advance, includes dainty finger sandwiches and not-so-dainty scones, along with a selection of homemade cakes.

Then there’s the ice cream, made onsite using local Allen Valley Milk and served in tubs and in the café year-round. In summer, grab some in a waffle cone or pot from the seasonal takeaway hut to devour while soaking in the gloriously green surroundings.

So, ideally, go with an empty stomach as well as an empty shopping bag or three.

3. Gullivers Farm Shop

Location: West Moors

Shop hours: 9am to 3pm, Monday to Sunday

There’s plenty to love about Gullivers Farm Shop. There’s the food, of course – from frilly-topped carrots to sourdough loaves and local honey, spirits and jams. And the gorgeous setting, sprawling over 90 acres of countryside grazed by goats, cows and sheep. Then there’s the farm’s commitment to the highest animal welfare standards, and its biodynamic status, with vegetables grown chemical-free in the soil and polytunnels.

At its heart, though, are the people. Gullivers provides employment and accommodation to adults with varying support needs as part of Sturts Community Trust, offering hands-on training from milking to customer service.

This is another place that’s much, much more than a farm shop. There’s a café, serving perfectly plated breakfasts, all-day brunch dishes (including a steak benedict) and healthy bowls packed with grains and veggies.

The Orchard Garden has seating and a play area, and there’s a short nature trail with a map to follow and activities to tick off along the way. There’s even a Wellness Yurt, which hosts yoga, meditation and baby classes.

4. Tamarisk Farm

Location: West Bexington

Shop hours: 4pm to 6pm Tuesday, 8.30am to 11am Friday

Overlooking both Cogden Beach and Chesil Beach, the shingle barrier immortalised in Ian McEwan’s novel, Tamarisk Farm would earn a place on our list for the setting alone. Aside from the glorious Jurassic coastline and sea views for miles, the farm is an idyllic patchwork of wildflower meadows, vegetable beds, ponds and fat hedgerows separating fields of grazing cows, sheep and horses.

Its stone-built shop is only open for a few hours on Tuesdays and Fridays. You can also buy goods online, including meat boxes, but it’s worth making the effort to pop in. Vegetables, arranged in crates out front, are freshly picked for opening times, and there’s a range of farm-raised meats, stoneground flours, grains, wool and even sheepskins to browse.

The farm hosts regular walks, with a stroll around the whole place followed by tea and biscuits or cake.

5. The Udder Farm Shop

Location: Gillingham

Shop hours: 8.30am to 6pm Monday to Saturday, 10am to 4pm Sunday

There aren’t many farms you can visit after dark, so The Udder is an exception. Its restaurant opens for evening meals most Fridays (unless there’s a private event booked in), serving curries, burgers and fish and chips, and there are often themed nights – from Mexican to steak – with food and cocktails to fit.

With floor-to-ceiling glass framing farmland and tree-cloaked hills, and a rustic-chic interior that’s all wood and leather, the setting is a departure from your typical farm shop, too – though meals from huge breakfasts to Sunday roasts make full use of the produce.

In the shop itself, a butchery counter is stocked with meats either reared here on the farm or sourced from neighbours, while the deli displays some fabulous local cheeses. There’s also an impressive range of Dorset and other English wines – perfect with some of the locally made treats on offer.

6. Waterston Farm Shop

Location: Lower Waterston

Shop hours: 5am to 10pm, Monday to Sunday

Waterston Farm Shop has a brilliant USP: wall-to-wall lockers and vending machines customers can access from the crack of dawn until late evening (the shop is staffed during core hours in between).

Forget chocolate bars, cans of pop and questionable ready meals – these lockers are stocked with proper local produce, from local cheeses like Dorset Red to farm-reared beef and lamb, plus savoury and sweet snacks crafted by Dorset makers and frozen goods like artisan pizzas.

Then there’s Daisy, the beloved dairy vending machine, dispensing farm-fresh milk and flavoured milkshakes.

It’s the perfect alternative to the late-night supermarket (or petrol station) for those who need to shop outside working hours, or those times when you just need to grab something delicious, and lovingly made, fast – and allows the owners to boost profits outside staffed hours. 

There’s also a coffee machine, so it’s a good option for a pick-me-up when travelling, too. Genius, really.

7. High Mead Farm Shop

Location: Longham

Shop hours: 9am to 4pm, Monday to Saturday

High Mead is a working farm that offers community therapy to people of varying needs – so every bag of potatoes or jar of local honey has an impact beyond filling gaps in your larder. 

The little shop packs in a lot, with farm-reared meats and products made onsite or sourced locally. Alongside crates overflowing with seasonal veg, there’s freshly baked bread, cakes and pastries, preserves, quails’ eggs, cheeses, duck and chicken. There’s a milk vending machine outside, too, dispensing bottles and milkshakes.

Beyond the shop, you can visit the main farm during specific events and open days, listed on the website – a chance to hang out with resident alpacas, goats and Indian runner ducks.

8. Washingpool Farm Shop

Location: Bridport

Shop hours: 8am to 5pm, Monday to Saturday

Washingpool is a model example of diversification. There’s an onsite farm shop, obviously, but there’s also a small caravan site, two holiday cottages and a licensed café with outdoor seating on the deck.

The shop (which appeared on series three of Broadchurch) stocks beef, pork, lamb, vegetables and even freshly cut flowers from the farm, complemented with goods sourced from Dorset and the southwest. 

There’s a lot on offer, but the range includes beer and cider, pies, biscuits, preserves, chocolate and baked goods.

The shop also sells top-notch ready meals, soups and cakes made right here – a dream for those staying on the farm.

9. The Beekeeper

Location: Portland

Shop hours: 9am to 4pm Monday to Saturday, 10am to 4pm Sunday

Food tends to be the focus of most farm shops, and understandably so – they scoop up the best produce from their land and beyond so shoppers can browse quality food and drinks while feeling quite smug about their food miles.

It’s important at The Beekeeper, too, where owners Jen Norster and Simon Gearing curate a selection of meats, cheeses, baked goods and preserves, all sourced from local farmers and artisan makers. 

But there’s also a wonderful selection of homewares and gift-y stuff, from scented candles and soaps to hand-thrown mugs, plates and pots. Stay for a perfectly brewed coffee and a pastry at the attached café, The Beehive.