Organic, local and green.
If ever you find yourself traveling along the A66, from Scotch Corner in North Yorkshire to Penrith in Cumbria, be sure to drop in at The Cross Lanes Organic Farm, just outside Barnard Castle.
Established in 2011, Cross Lanes comprises of an organic cafe/restaurant with a farm retail shop supporting local producers and a developing horticultural center.
That is what the blurb says on their website, but as far as I am concerned it is a very nice place, with very nice staff, very nice food at very reasonable prices.
The owners Peter and Sue Coverdale have had a long battle with planners to erect effective signage on the approaches to this project, but eventually some suitable signage was allowed thanks to the generosity of neighboring land owners.
They have won a number of prestigious awards in the short time they have been here, including being chosen as a Top Ten Destination Farm Shop by BBC Good Food Guide in 2015, and were recently commended in the Farm Shop of the Year category in the Farm Shop & Deli Awards.
In the shop they have an in house butcher, delicatessen, bakery, and craft section and outside a play area for the kids.
Cross Lanes is built and run entirely on eco principles with organic, local and green thinking in everything that they do.
My wife and I called in at around mid day for a lunch time snack rather than a large meal. The cafe was quite busy but not full, and we had plenty of tables to choose from. The waiting staff were attentive and we were not rushed into making our choices. We decided on a sandwich each, with a pot of tea for two,which turned out to be a pot each which filled three cups each.
This was a shame really, considering all the lovely things that were on offer on the standard menu as well as the “specials” board which is changed every day. I must admit I had difficulty in reading the specials board from where we were sitting, but this is not a criticism, it is more to do with me being overdue for an eye test!
I chose a “Hot Breakfast Sandwich” of sausage and bacon and my wife a “Cold Sandwich” of Teesdale Beef and Horseradish with side salad. Since we were both ignoring the calorie intake we went for a small dish of rustic chips to share aswell. Why not?
Don’t let it ever be said that I don’t know how to treat a woman! The bill was a few pence over £17.
A feature of the cafe is a wood burning stove which is used to make freshly baked pizzas, flatbreads, and traditional roasts.
When you’re on a long journey in the UK, on A Roads and Motorways, or a mixture of both it’s so important to find somewhere good to eat and relax for a while.
So make a note of this place, when you’re next on the pictorial A66. Trust me, you will not be disappointed.
