The Avocet Cafe, Topsham

The Avocet Cafe is a dear little place on the high street in Topsham.  It has one tiny two seater table squeezed onto the pavement and a further seven or eight on the inside.  They do good value, homemade produce focusing on local products.  Previously I've had their savoury cream tea which was a homemade scone with creme fraiche and South Devon Chilli Farm jam.

This time after a beautiful meander along the nearby Goat Walk next to the River Exe, we had tea and homemade teacakes.  Apparently when the council were trying to decide what to name the new estuarine promenade in 1908 a local man proclaimed 'It's nowt but a bloody goat walk!' and the name stuck.  When we walk along there with the children we totally embarrass them by making like goats.  But today we had no kids to embarrass, therefore no billy goats gruff antics.

The Avocet was recently recommended in the Guardian's Top 10 Best Budget Eats for Exeter.

 On the way to the Ladies (through the kitchen and out in the back garden) I was very envious of the plucked pumpkins.

 Another place that does homemade teacakes (and bless them for going to the trouble of a yeasty bun) is the excellent Dartmoor Tea Rooms.