Travel – The Extra Mile

Posted on 06/06/202505/06/2025 by The Extra Mile

The energy behind our Coastal Café Guide

Hand holding The Coastal Café Guide in a living room.

Introducing: The Coastal Café Guide

Kerry O’Neill is the writer of 2024’s Amazon bestseller, The Coastal Café Guide (a book featured in The Scotsman, Times Weekend and more). Here’s her welcome to the book, to give you a feel for what it and we at Extra Mile Books are all about. Kerry, over to you…

“The coast represents many things to many people. Some head to the coast purely to relax or for fun, holidays, escapes, surfs, swims, and sunbathing. Others go to be uplifted, inspired, and buoyed by the mental health and well-being benefits of being in, near, and on the ocean. Whatever your motivation, you’ll need to eat while there. This guide is a counter-clockwise journey around Britain. It starts in the South West (where we at Printslinger/ Extra Mile Books are based) then heads east and up to Scotland, returning via rugged West Wales.

Food with a view and beach eats

This first edition has around 150 cafés, restaurants, seafood shacks, horsebox pop-ups, beach cabins, bars, and pubs that we hope you’ll enjoy visiting. Often small and independently run, each place is ready to keep your salty self fed and watered while at the coast. If it is food with a view you seek, in many cases: you got it. Love them? Great! Prefer other spots? Tell us for next time. We’ve had some epic experiences while researching this book.

What’s more impressive is the resilience of Britain’s small coastal café owners. Battling the same challenges as the rest of us, they manage to keep that beachy flag flying in the face of increased food costs, difficulties finding staff, and the famously fickle British weather. By visiting the places in this new guide, you are supporting the people that work so hard to make your day memorable, with their splashes of local colour and tasty regional specialities.

May this book be your companion on many foodie and coastal adventures.

Kerry O’Neill

Writer of The Coastal Café Guide and publisher at Extra Mile Books, from Printslinger.

Sound like your kind of book?

If our ethos resonates with you, we have a sneaking suspicion that you might enjoy The Coastal Café Guide, or its sibling books The Farm Shop Guide (which does what it says on the tin) or The Extra Mile: Delicious Alternatives to Motorway Services. Hit the image or button below to browse our current guides, and do let us know if you find any favourite coastal cafés that we’ve yet to stumble upon.

Posted on 05/06/202505/06/2025 by The Extra Mile

Win a Devon escape – last chance!

Win 2 nights in Devon - competition blog post header

Competition ends 8 June. ENTER NOW!

Our competition has been running over on Instagram for a wee while now so we’re giving it a final boost…and you a final chance to enter. Here’s what the prize includes, and it’s a good-un…

Win a pitch for two nights at Ocean Pitch, Croyde; a £50 voucher for Biffen’s Kitchen; a £50 cinema voucher; plus copies of bestsellers The Coastal Café Guide (from Extra Mile Books) and The Salt Path.

🌊🌊🌊 TO ENTER 🌊🌊🌊

1. FOLLOW @extramilebooks on Instagram and LIKE the Competition post
2. FOLLOW @oceanpitch on Insta
3. FOLLOW @biffenskitchen on Insta

🌊🌊🌊 THE PRIZE 🌊🌊🌊

🌊 SLEEP: A pitch for 2 nights for 2 people at Croyde Bay’s Ocean Pitch Campsite, Devon (bring own van/ tent etc)

🌊 EAT: £50 in vouchers to spend at Biffen’s Kitchen Food Truck (on-site at Ocean Pitch)

🌊 WATCH: £50 Cinema Vouchers to see The Salt Path? The Surfer? Your call…

🌊 READ: A copy of #1 bestsellers: The Coastal Cafe Guide from Extra Mile Books, The Salt Path by Raynor Winn

🌊🌊🌊 GOOD LUCK! 🌊🌊🌊

🌊 TERMS AND CONDITIONS
One winner will be chosen at random from competition post ‘Likes’ on @extramilebooks’ Instagram page, on 09.06.25. Deadline for entrants: 23:59 on 08.06.2025. To be valid, the entrant must have ‘Followed’ @extramilebooks, @oceanpitch, + @biffenskitchen on Instagram. The winner will be contacted via Instagram DM and has five calendar days to respond or they will forfeit their right to the prize and a second random winner will be drawn and contacted. The Ocean Pitch and Biffen’s Kitchen prizes must be taken during the same consecutive two-day period. No cash equivalent or part-refunds will be offered. Ocean Pitch camping dates are subject to pitch availability. Weekend availability is very low until September but any available dates including mid-week dates are permitted. Prize valid for bookings with Ocean Pitch for dates until end Sept 2025. No purchase necessary. Entrants must be resident in the UK and be at least 18 years of age. No monetary equivalent offered. No transport or other costs are included. This prize is not transferrable unless agreed with Extra Mile Books. This giveaway is run by Extra Mile Books (www.theextramile.guide). It is not affiliated with Meta, Facebook, or Instagram in any way. Please send any Qs to the organisers: hello@extramilebooks.co.uk.

A Coastal Campsite of the Year

Ocean Pitch is a brilliant, surf’s-edge campsite in Croyde Bay, Devon. This spot is world-renowned for its perfect waves (and Ocean Pitch is renowned for its epic staff!). As if that’s not enough, the competition winner also gets £50 credit at Biffen’s Kitchen. The legend of his pinkled onions alone is enough to keep hungry surfers coming back year after year. We’re also throwing in £50 in cinema vouchers – tell us your closest complex or indie cinema and we’ll sort that bit out just for you.

Click to watch the competition film:

Enter The Coastal Café Guide's competition below

If you need a break and an escape to the edges of the country (whether you win the competition or not!) you might just need The Coastal Café Guide. It’s packed with around 150 places to eat near the sea, from beach eats to fancier, fishier restaurants, to cool, surf-inspired shacks like the hidden gem that is Biffen’s Kitchen, at Ocean Pitch, Croyde. To browse this or any of our other guides, see below.

Posted on 04/06/202505/06/2025 by The Extra Mile

The Joy of Getting Slightly Lost

The lost joy of getting slightly lost: why paper guides still matter

We’ve all been there, following the blue dot on a phone–screen, eyes down, marching toward the next café, viewpoint, or farm shop with barely a glance at what’s around us. Efficient? Maybe. But satisfying? Not always. In a world of digital maps and algorithm-driven reviews, we’ve lost something quietly magical: the joy of getting slightly lost.

The beauty of the detour

One of the best things about slow travel – especially along Britain’s coast or countryside – is its unpredictability. The winding lane that wasn’t on the route? It might lead to a family-run café with the best crab sandwich you’ve ever had. That missed turnoff? You could stumble across a beach no App has reviewed (yet). Paper guides – the kind you can hold in your hands, scribble notes in, and spill coffee on – invite this kind of discovery. They don’t demand your attention. They suggest, rather than dictate. And they leave space for chance.

Screens don’t make memories

Phones are useful. We won’t deny that. But they tend to flatten the experience: screen glow, search results, star ratings. You arrive knowing exactly what to expect because you’ve seen it all in advance: the buildings, the meals, the platters, the views.

With a paper guide, you arrive hoping for something, often finding more than you bargained for. There’s been no hype, no amped expectation, no Instagram filters. This allows you to discover the place as it truly is, so you’ll meet real people, producers and farmers, often selling their own homemade food for your enjoyment. This isn’t sat-navigation: it’s adventure.

Why we still make printed guides

At a time when almost everything is online, we deliberately make real guides: designed to be enjoyed offline. They are beautiful, colourful, high calibre books: carbon-neutral print products made with vegetable inks and using certified paper from carefully managed forests.

They don’t need signal. They have no batteries to die, no pop-ups to annoy, no notifications to cause you stress. Just pages packed with handpicked, characterful places, some of which we’ve got very lost trying to find.

We believe there’s something grounding about unfolding a map or drifting through a guidebook, circling a café, ear-marking a page, or flipping through pages over breakfast to plan your next stop. It’s a type of travel that invites you to stay present… and sometimes to go off course.

So go on. Get a little lost

Next time you hit the road, leave the SatNav off for a while. Let your finger trace a route across a page. Embrace the scenic way. Look out for high points, viewpoints, nature reserves, picnic bench signs, car parks atop cliffs. And if you take a wrong turn or it takes ten minutes longer than planned, don’t panic; that’s where the best stories often begin.

Gift a guidebook today

Our printed guides, The Extra Mile, The Farm Shop Guide, and The Coastal Café Guide, are packed with brilliant places that are worth getting slightly lost for. They are also ideal gifts, especially for people who prefer the real world to the digital one, or who prefer books to screens.

‘You can’t wrap an app’ as we like to say, but you can gift a lovely guidebook, ready to create countless foodie memories for your recipient as they follow their tummies and noses around Britain in search of good, honest, local food, with a little bit of adventure thrown in.

Explore Extra Mile Books’ full collection of guides below.

Posted on 29/05/202527/05/2025 by The Extra Mile

Beyond the Big Chains

Betty Berkins cafe, an independent cafe in The Extra Mile

Why independent motorway stops-offs matter

When you’re halfway through a long drive and your stomach starts to rumble, the default is often a motorway service station: convenient, predictable, and usually forgettable. But what if there were a better way to break your journey? One that supported local communities, served better food, and added character to your trip?

Welcome to The Extra Mile: a curated guide to delicious, independent places to eat near UK motorway and main-road junctions. We believe that taking the scenic (and tasty) detour is about more than just what’s on your plate; it’s also about whom and what you support along the way.

Image above (c) Betty Berkins

The trouble with chain services

Let’s face it: the average motorway service station is hardly known for its individuality and charm. From lukewarm fries to overpriced coffee, chain-dominated services tend to serve up convenience somewhat at the cost of character.

Many service stations are owned by a handful of large operators, meaning that their profits leave the local area and sometimes the country, even though the services themselves may be located in the heart of Britain’s rural communities.

Why do independent food stops matter?

1. Better food, made with care

Independent cafés, bakeries, and farm shops near motorways often use fresh, local ingredients. Many make everything from scratch, from sourdough toasties to homemade cakes and seasonal soups.

2. They support local economies

When you stop at a family-run café or regional farm shop, you’re keeping money in the local community. That means more local jobs, stronger rural economies, flourishing local food and drinks producers, and thriving high streets.

(Certain services brands, i.e. the Westmorland company’s Gloucester, Tebay, and Cairn Lodge services, act in a way that is more akin to independently run pit-stops, and are notable exceptions to the general rule of motorway services’ profits leaving the area. Each of the Westmorland trio supports hundreds of local farmers and food producers by stocking and introducing their goods to their millions of annual visitors.)

3. A more memorable journey

Nobody reminisces about that generic burger they grabbed at the services just off Junction 18 that time. But taking a one mile detour to stop at a converted barn café or a friendly farm shop with goats and garden tables? That becomes part of the story.

4. Lower your travel footprint

Many of the places featured in The Extra Mile: Delicious Alternatives to Motorway Services keep their eyes sharply on their carbon footprint and sustainability efforts. They buy local produce to reduce food miles, offer EV chargers, or work hard to reduce their packaging use.

Taking the detour is easier than you think

All the venues in The Extra Mile are within 15 minutes of a motorway or main A-road junction (most are a lot closer or within a few minutes). This means better food without a major diversion, plus the satisfaction of skipping limp chips and queues in sterile food halls.

From artisan bakeries off the M5 to coastal cafés just beyond the A30, there’s a better alternative waiting just off your route.

Find your next ‘new favourite’ food stop

The Extra Mile: Delicious Alternatives to Motorway Services is your glovebox guide to over 275 independent, welcoming venues across Britain, including cafés, pubs, farm shops, and delis that are well worth a small detour.

If you’re ready to swap the service station sandwich for something made with love, order your copy of The Extra Mile and discover the tastier side of travel. Extra Mile Books now also publishes The Farm Shop Guide and The Coastal Café Guide, so you can branch out and continue enjoying adventures in local food from the heart of rural Britain to the salty edges of our island.

Posted on 07/02/202507/02/2025 by The Extra Mile

Beach Yoga in Cornwall

Image of people doing yoga on the beach, by Nick Fewings

Beach Yoga in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly

Here’s our quick guide to beach yoga studios, on-the-sand yoga sessions and sea-view and coast-view yoga in Cornwall. Any we’ve missed? Let us know. Do always check ahead as things can change, such as a given class’s availability, style, instructor, or venue.

Gwithian Beach Yoga

Experience the magic of the sea with Gwithian Beach Yoga, where ocean views meet mindful movement. Flow with the waves, breathe in fresh sea air, and unwind with their memorable silent disco yoga for an immersive, music-filled practice. Perfect for all levels, it’s a unique and restorative way to connect with nature in Cornwall. Visit Gwithian Beach Yoga.

Ocean Flow Yoga Studio: Beach Yoga in Newquay

Oceanflow Yoga Studio offers a variety of classes, including Vinyasa, Hot Yoga, and Yin Yoga, all with panoramic views of Fistral Beach. Their Silent Disco Yoga events on the beach combine movement with music through wireless headphones, creating a unique and immersive experience. This approach allows participants to connect deeply with their practice while enjoying the natural beauty of Cornwall’s coastline. Visit Ocean Flow Studio online.

Shine Yoga: Beach Yoga in Newquay

Experience the serenity of Shine Yoga in Newquay, where instructor Jen Austin leads beach yoga sessions amidst Cornwall’s coastal beauty. Classes are held on Lusty Glaze Beach, offering a harmonious blend of Vinyasa flow and the soothing sounds of the sea. Embrace the elements and rejuvenate your practice in this unique seaside setting. Visit Shine Yoga online.

Mawgan Pause: Coastal Yoga in Mawgan Porth

Experience tranquility with Mawgan Pause in Mawgan Porth, Cornwall. Led by qualified instructors like Billy, Mawgan Pause offer personalised yoga sessions, including Flow, Yin, and Somatics, as well as sound baths. Private classes are available at your location, providing a tailored approach to your wellness journey. Embrace the serene coastal environment to deepen your practice. Visit Mawgan Pause Yoga here (and discover their Yogary Treats, no spelling mistakes there!).

Wavehunters: Beach Yoga in Polzeath

Experience invigorating beach yoga with Wavehunters at Polzeath and Watergate Bay. Their all-level classes, set against Cornwall’s stunning coastline, offer a blend of fitness and relaxation. Join their sessions to connect with nature and enhance your well-being. Discover more about Wavehunters beach yoga and coastal fitness classes.

Elm Yoga: Beach Yoga in Carlyon Beach

Experience the rejuvenating Beach Yoga sessions with ELM Yoga at Carlyon Bay Beach in St Austell. Led by instructor Emma, these classes (often on Saturday at 10am) offer a blend of gentle flow and relaxation surrounded by the soothing sounds of the sea. Participants are encouraged to bring their own mat or towel and consider a sea swim post-practice. Please check their online (their Facebook page is the best bet) for weather updates before turning up. Find Elm Yoga online.

The Zen Den: Beach Yoga in Watergate Bay

The Zen Den offers a unique yoga experience in a cosy yurt overlooking Watergate Bay in North Cornwall. They provide a variety of classes, including Hatha and Yin yoga, suitable for all levels. The space is open daily from early summer until late autumn, welcoming both beginners and experienced practitioners. All equipment is provided; just bring yourself. The Zen Den is also available for private hire. Located at the Top Field Car Park, Watergate Bay, Cornwall TR8 4AA, it’s easily accessible from Newquay via a short drive or a scenic walk along cliff-top footpaths. The venue offers private, safe, and free parking. For more information or to book a class, visit the Zen Den online.

Yoga Ro: Seaview Yoga in Trebah Gardens

Yoga Ro, led by Ro, offers a variety of yoga classes in Falmouth, Cornwall, including Dynamic Vinyasa Flow, Yin Yoga, and Pregnancy Yoga. Ro has been teaching since 2016 and completed her 500-hour advanced teacher training with Quantum Yoga. She also offers live-streamed classes, 1-1 sessions, and corporate yoga/meditation. Additionally, Ro organizes retreats in various locations, providing opportunities to reset and recharge in new landscapes. For info and to book, visit Yoga Ro online.

Love Cornwall? You'll love The Coastal Café Guide

Here at Printslinger books (home of The Coastal Café Guide, The Farm Shop Guide, and The Extra Mile Guide: Delicious Alternatives to Motorway Services), we love sending our readers to memorable, independent and often family-run and seasonal places to eat and drink across Cornwall and indeed the whole of Britain. To browse The Coastal Café Guide or our other books, visit our online shop today.

Posted on 18/12/202419/12/2024 by The Extra Mile

Get The Extra Mile for Christmas

How to get The Extra Mile in time for Christmas

Well..the quickest and easiest way is to ask for it! In terms of ‘how do you physically get hold of a copy to give as a gift now we’re so close to Christmas’, here are a few ways for you to ensure you get a copy in time. We no longer advise you buy it direct from us for a pre-Christmas delivery, due to handling/ postage timeframes, but fear not: there are plenty of ways to get your copy on time from other in-person and online sellers.

Buy or order The Extra Mile into your local bookshop

Many bookshops already stock The Extra Mile: Delicious Alternatives to Motorway Services, plus our other two books: The Coastal Café Guide and The Farm Shop Guide. Pop in or give your local high street or independent book shop a call to see if they can reserve you their in-stock copy so you have it safely in hand in time for Christmas. If not, you can ask them to order your copies in and they’ll usually arrive very quickly, with bookshops’ mixed orders from their wholesalers and distributors landing daily, especially at Christmas. Do check on the likely arrival date before ordering.

Buy from venues in The Extra Mile Guide

Most of the venues in The Extra Mile (or The Coastal Café Guide, or The Farm Shop Guide) stock the book that they feature in. People love browsing the book and buying their own copy while visiting, and many of our fabulous owners restocked their café’s bookshelves well in advance, in readiness for planned – and impromptu if you’re anything like us! – Christmas gift buying. You can check The Extra Mile’s online map here to see if a venue near you features in the book, then give them a call to see if they have any of 2023’s blue, Edition 4 book (with the bridge on the front) so you can simply pick one up there, supporting them while you’re at it.

Buy The Extra Mile from online booksellers

It’s now too close to Christmas for us to be able to guarantee that orders direct from this website will reach their intended recipient on or before 24 December, but other online book sellers and resellers have different postal arrangements and will be able to get you your books in time. So, thank you for considering buying The Extra Mile direct from us at Printslinger (the small, indie publisher behind the book), and we’re truly only thinking of you when we say so late into the Christmas swing, that you’ll likely have more luck getting things in time if you buy from someone with a next-day/ express delivery option at this point. And don’t feel bad for buying elsewhere; we rise up the rankings when you buy online, which ultimately helps more people see our books and celebrate the nation’s independent and local food networks, so, positives will still come of it!

Happy Christmas and enjoy The Extra Mile Guide

The very best of luck to those of you tracking down copies of The Extra Mile in time to wrap for Christmas. You can always risk it by going direct and simply say ‘your gift is in the post’….I’m sure your foodie friends won’t mind if their gift is a little late! It will most definitely be better late than never in the case of our three top-selling titles.

Have a wonderful Christmas and if you did want to browse our books and great value book bundles, you’ll find them all here on Printslinger’s online bookshop: simply hit the button below to browse all of our current books.

Posted on 27/11/202402/12/2024 by The Extra Mile

CHRISTMAS DIPS, BOXING DAY SWIMS AND NEW YEAR DOOKS IN THE UK: 2024

Once upon a time the New Year’s day swim was the preserve of the crazy or the hardened, lone sea swimmer. But since the national awakening about wild swimming, sea dips, and cold water swimming, they’ve boomed in popularity. And there is something magical about sluicing away the end of the year with an exhilarating communal dip.

This list is far from exhaustive. There are swims – formal and informal – right across the UK so check local listings for your favourite. And given they’re at the mercy of the elements, it’s always worth checking they’re going ahead before setting out.

Remember to stay safe. The Outdoor Swimming Society publish some Festive Swimming Dos and Don’ts and they’re well worth a quick look.

Photo by Big Ladder Photography https://www.bigladder.co.uk/

Photo of Bude by Big Ladder photography

Christmas Day Swims

The White Christmas Dip – Boscombe Pier, 9.45am

A charity fundraiser at Boscombe Pier near Bournemouth. Pre-register on the website.

Exmouth Christmas Day Swim – Devon, 10.45am

Founded in the late 60s by a group of friends and now one of the county’s largest.

Sennen Beach – Cornwall, 11am

Hundreds of dippers descend on one of Cornwall’s prettiest coves.

Bude Christmas Day Swim – Cornwall, 11am

Make your way to Crooklets beach for 11am for a swim with the Bude Surf Life Saving Club. Wetsuits prohibited! (Throw a tenner in the bucket to support the club.)

Polzeath – Cornwall, 11am

The Cornish have a particular penchant for Christmas sea swims, but this Polzeath one is a fairly new addition to the scene. Wet suits are also forbidden but it’s worth checking to see if the sea sauna is open for a warm up before or after.

Weymouth Harbour Christmas Swim – Dorset, 11am

An actual ‘swim’ where participants cross the harbour and back. The RNLI are on hand to supervise but it’s organised by the local Lions Club.

Porthcawl Christmas Swim – Bridgend, 10.30am

A party-like sea swim on South Wales’ Coney beach that’s been going since 1965. Meet at the Hi-Tide Inn.

Felixstowe Christmas Day Dip – Suffolk, 10am

One way to kick off your Christmas. It’s a charity fundraiser so dig deep for the local hospice.

Lowestoft Christmas Day Swim – Suffolk, 10am

Supported by the Coastguard and various local charities, this one features a warm-up on the prom before a bracing dip.

Boxing Day Swims

St Ives Boxing Day Dip – Cornwall, noon

Head to Porthminster Beach to join the throng of sea swimmers. Donations to charity.

West Bay Wallow – Dorset, noon

Held in Bridport’s West bay and celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, this fancy dress swim is followed up with carols round the community Christmas tree.

Deal Rotary Icebreakers Boxing Day Swim – Kent, 1.30pm

Inaugurated in 2018 and rapidly amassing followers. Register in advance for a discounted ticket.

Ventnor Boxing Day Swim – Isle of Wight, noon

Head to the esplanade of the UK’s sunniest shore to join the dippers.

Cromer Boxing Day Dip – Norfolk, 11.30am

Burn off the turkey excesses with a dook in the North Sea at Cromer.

Portreath Beach – Cornwall, 11am

Leave your wetsuit at home – they’re not allowed here. This Boxing Day swim is arranged by the local life saving club and the entry fee covers warming mulled wine and mince pies after the event.

Charlestown Harbour – Cornwall, 11.30am

Run by the local rowing club near St Austell, and fancy dress is encouraged.

Paignton Walk into the Sea – Devon, noon

A ‘walk into the sea’ but most like to run and get it over with! £10 entry which goes to the local Lions Club.

Tenby Boxing Day Swim – Pembrokeshire, 11am

A local institution with a bonfire on North Beach and hot soup for warming up afterwards. There’s a ‘superhero’ theme for fancy dressers this year.

Pembrey Country Park Walrus Dip – Carmarthenshire, 10.30am

Make your way to Cefn Sidan beach for the Boxing Day swim and you can claim a certificate to prove you were hardy enough.

Llandudno Boxing Day Sea Swim – Conwy, 10.30am

Organised by the Lions Club, you’ll need to pre-register for this charity fundraising dip.

Whitby Boxing Day Dip – North Yorkshire, 10.30am

Registration for this one is mandatory and fancy dress judging begins the proceedings.

Sunderland Boxing Day Dip – Tyne and Wear, 10am

Open to anyone over the age of 12 with fancy dress encouraged. Organisers recommend bringing an old pair of trainers for the road crossing before the big wet.

Burghead Boxing Day Swim – Moray, 2.30pm

The fearless swimmers here have to hurl themselves from the harbour wall into the waters.

New Year’s Day Swims

Hele Bay Merbabes New Year’s Swim – North Devon, 10am

An RNLI fundraiser just outside Ilfracombe.

Lyme New Year’s Day Lunge – Devon, 1pm

Lyme Regis’ fancy dress fundraiser, organised by the local Rotary Club.

Camber Sands Festive Dips – East Sussex, tide dependent

Also held on Boxing Day; the hardy can do both. Tide times affect timings so check in advance for the latest updates.

Saundersfoot New Years’ Day Swim – Pembrokeshire, 12.30pm

A charity event with prizes for fancy dress. £5 to join in and a fabulous way to sluice off the Christmas excesses.

Porthdinllaen New Year’s Day Dip – Llyn Peninsula, noon

Safeguarded by the RNLI, this new year’s cleanse takes place on Morfa Nefyn beach.

Porty Dook – Lothian, 1pm

A hardcore dook in the North Sea off the Edinburgh coast. One for the brave!

Broughty Ferry Harbour – Dundee, 2.30pm

Hundreds of dookers turn up for this one in a tradition that comes from the fisherfolk of the town. Spectators are welcome but mankinis aren’t.

Like sea swimming? You’ll love our Coastal Cafe Guide! Every salty sea swim demands a warming hot chocolate afterwards. (Click to buy.)

Cover image of The Coastal Café Guide book

Posted on 20/11/202424/02/2025 by The Extra Mile

BEST FOOD FESTIVALS FOR 2025

(c) eat:Festivals. People browsing local food stall at an eat:festival

THE BEST FOOD FESTIVALS FOR 2025

This blog brings together some of our favourite national and regional food festivals, so that you don’t miss a culinary trick in 2025 when looking for something to do with your foodie friends. Thank you to the organisers of the South West’s multi-award-winning food and drink festival series, eat:Festivals, for the use of their evocative, appetite-whetting imagery, above.

Our guidebooks (The Extra Mile: Delicious Alternatives to Motorway Services; The Farm Shop Guide; and The Coastal Café Guide) have one thing in common with these festivals. Our books encourage people to eat local, buy local, avoid boring big-brand food and the monotony of motorway eats, and instead to support smaller, independent producers. You’ll find many of these festivals featured in our newest book (already a #1 Amazon bestseller), The Farm Shop Guide.

Have we missed any festivals? Let us know, we’ll slip them in.

FOOD FESTIVALS IN/ FROM APRIL 2025

eat:Festivals…Year-round events in 2025 (from 5 April until 13 Dec)

eat:Festivals need a whole website of their own, there is so much going on. With local, regional events plus festive and themed markets (think vegan, Christmas, gate-to-plate), their impressive series of day-long markets begin with eat:Bideford on Sat 5 April 2025. They then continue (through Minehead, Weston-super-Mare, Castle Cary, Nailsea, Exmouth, Tavistock, Taunton, Bedminster, Burnham, Portishead, Axminster, Yeovil, Chipping Sodbury Shaftesbury, Honiton, Totnes, Wellington, Tiverton, and Clevedon) until Sat 13 December 2025, drawing a year of South West food festivals to a close with eat:Dawlish. Come along for everything from cider, organic veggies and smoked fish to chocolate, gelato and local spirits. Street performers and sustainability are high on the list of must-haves for every eat:Festival.

Book or attend your next eat:Festival here.

FOOD FESTIVALS IN MAY 2025

Porthleven Food Festival, Cornwall, 2-4 May 2025

Designed as a toast to Cornish food (while raising awareness of the key issues relating to food and the environment), this event takes over the whole town in a weekend of pasties, chef demos, Bloody Marys, ska bands, and comedy skits. It’s a riot.

Visit the Porthleven Food Festival in Cornwall.

Ludlow Food Festival, Shropshire, 9-11 May 2025

The spring chapter of this famed foodie event (set against the Marches’ iconic castle) has bands, beer, music, and motors. Although more beer-focused than the autumn edition, you’ll find a wealth of artisan food producers ready to show off the region’s best street food. A fab food festival in Shropshire.

Follow Ludlow’s Spring Food Festival, Shropshire

Follow Ludlow’s main Food Festival (12-14 Sep 2025)

North Leeds Food Festival, West Yorkshire, May 10-11 2025

A popular menu of tribute bands, street entertainers, artisan traders, indy bars, and delicious street food make this a popular addition to any self-respecting foodie’s calendar. Kids love the fun fair and inflatables, leaving grown-ups free to enjoy innovative chef demos and samples of local tipples.

Visit the North Leeds Food Festival site

Blenheim Palace Food Festival, Woodstock, Oxfordshire, 24-26 May 2025

In this rather dramatic setting, discover new flavours and be inspired by passionate chefs, food makers and bakers, and esteemed culinary guests. For street food, live music, curated food stalls, kitchen and homeware gifts, Blenheim is the place to be. If you happen to have an Annual or Palace and Play Pass, it’s also completely free (else find tickets online).

Head to the Blenheim Palace Food Festival in 2025.

FOOD FESTIVAL IN JUNE 2025

Taste of London, Regent’s Park, 12-16 June 2025

This five-day ‘food-fuelled garden party’, as the organisers call it, happens in the heart of the capital’s vast Regent’s Park. It features an impressive number of London’s hottest chefs and restaurants, and introduces movers and shakers new to the food scene. Cocktails, desserts, cook schools, and street food await.

Visit Taste of London for festival map, tickets, and info.

Shrewsbury Food Festival 28-29 June 2025

On the last weekend of June, Shrewsbury Food Festival transforms the town’s park with 200 independent food and drink stalls, street food trucks, and bars. Top chefs offer free talks and demonstrations, while a Chef School inspires budding cooks. A dedicated kids’ zone features free activities like circus skills, have-a-go activities, and inflatables. Enjoy live performances on the Music Stage and Family Entertainment Stage or learn about food and sustainability in the Field to Fork area. Winner of ‘Festival of the Year’ at West Midlands Tourism Awards 2024, it’s more than just a food festival.

Visit Shrewsbury Food Festival.

FOOD FESTIVALS IN JULY 2025

Great Yorkshire Show, North Yorkshire, July 8-11 2025

A 140,000-strong crowd descends on Harrogate each summer to celebrate British food, countryside, and farming at the Great Yorkshire Show. Staged since 1837, this is one of the UK’s oldest, largest agricultural shows. Marvel at the prize animals in the judging ring, sample fine Yorkshire produce, and enjoy the live music.

For FAQ and tickets, visit the Great Yorkshire Show online.

National Geographic Traveller Food Festival, Business Design Centre, London, 19-20 July 2025,

With a food hall, wine and spirits theatre, workshops, master food photography sessions and more, Nat Geo’s fabulous food fest gives you the chance to ‘taste the world’ in the heart of London. Head to the main stage to see decorated chefs, TV personalities, and cookbook writers, and be inspired by their words, wit, and culinary wisdom.

Global gourmets: get your 2025 tickets to the National Geographic Traveller Food Festival here.

Rock Oyster, Dinham House, North Cornwall, 24-27 July 2025

Alongside an artisanal food extravaganza, Rock Oyster has a stellar lineup of musical treats in 2025, from the Ministry of Sound Classical to Rag’n’Bone Man, UB40 and more. Sea, sand, surf, foodie workshops and sessions, salivating over delicious gourmet goods: Rock Oyster 2025 has it all.

Check out the Rock Oyster 2025 schedule and tickets here.

Feast On, Bristol, 24-27 July 2025

Hosted on Bristol’s iconic Durdham Downs parkland, Feast On offers signature dishes from the city’s top chefs as well as a produce market, open fire cooking demos, live music, and tasting opportunities. Bristol is also home to most of this publisher’s staff (it’s where Printslinger is based) so this Bristol Food Festival is of course a huge favourite. See you there!

Get stuck in to Feast On Bristol in 2025

FOOD FESTIVALS IN AUGUST 2025

PieFest, Melton Mowbray, 3-4 August 2025

Does this food festival speak for itself? To eat all the pies – or to see who makes some of the country’s very finest examples thereof – come to pie-central, Melton Mowbray, in early August. Check the suspension on your car before setting off, boot laden with golden-pastry’d goodness…

Visit PieFest in August 2025.

Glasgow Foodies Festival, 8-10 August 2025

Glasgow’s is one in a cracking series of 14 ‘Foodie’ festivals taking place right across the UK, each celebrating the food of its region. Expect fire-pit cooking, an artisan market, street food, award-winning chefs, and great music. If you’re looking for a food festival in Scotland, look no further.

Visit Glasgow Foodies Festival online for more.

The Big Feastival, the Cotswolds, Oxfordshire, 22-24 August 2025

Cross a music festival with a food fest and you have: the Feastival. Hosted at a farm in the Cotswolds, it’s a weekend extravaganza of music, dancing, top-class chefs, finger-licking street food, and family fun.

Get your tickets to Oxfordshire’s Big Feastival here.

FOOD FESTIVALS IN SEPTEMBER 2025

Narberth Food Festival, Pembrokeshire 2025 (date TBC)

West Wales has a burgeoning food scene, and the pretty market town of Narberth celebrates the best of it. Entry is free and the 50-plus stalls are full of creative flavours: perhaps local ferments, whisky, preserved fish, or vegan meals. There’s also a rich menu of music and activities for children. Check online before making any plans, we’re just waiting with everything crossed for the 2025 dates.

Visit Narberth Food Festival in 2025

Abergavenny Food Festival, 20-21 September 2025

The picturesque market town of Abergavenny is the perfect backdrop for one of Britain’s finest food festivals. From inspiring food education to parties in the Dome, meet-the-author events, and every street food and gourmet treat you can imagine, Abergavenny Food Festival really is a treat for all the senses. Full of food? Walk it off with a stroll around the nearby castle or canal.

Visit one of Wales’s best food festivals: Abergavenny 2025.

Aldeburgh Food and Drink Festival, Suffolk, 27-28 September 2025

2025 is the Aldeburgh Food and Drink Festival’s 20th anniversary: what a year to experience this brilliant event for the first time. it features cooking classes for kids, tractor rides, and over 100 local food and drink producers from across Suffolk. As a not-for-profit outfit, its raison d’être is to reconnect people with the food provided by the nearby landscape, and to champion emerging and established producers. (Exactly what Printslinger guidebooks like to do, too.)

Get your tickets to Aldeburgh’s food festival 2025 here.

FOOD FESTIVALS IN OCTOBER 2025

East Midlands Food Festival, Melton Mowbray, 5-6 October 2025

Rural foodie capital, Melton Mowbray, celebrates its fêted pork pies alongside plentiful artisanal treats every autumn, at this covered food festival. Stalls spill over with farm-fresh produce, while the area’s multicultural flavours wait to be sampled: the Iranian offering is strong. For Pie Fest, you’ll need to be here in August.

Plan your trip to the East Midlands Food Festival 2025 here.

LOVE FOOD? DISCOVER OUR FOODIE TRAVEL GUIDES

If you love local food, and supporting smaller, independent and often family-run food and drinks businesses (and farmers and farm shops), have a look at our three guidebooks on the button below. They’d each make a great gift for your foodie friend, or treat yourself to the trio. Banish forgettable food, and eat better (while buying local) with The Extra Mile, The Coastal Café Guide, or The Farm Shop Guide.

Posted on 16/11/202415/11/2024 by The Extra Mile

FIND THE BEST SEA SAUNA NEAR YOU

Sea saunas in the UK are popping up all over the place: hoorah for sea saunas! They’re great for surfers, sea swimmers, and those who like to stay firmly on shore. Invigorate your senses and boost your wellbeing with a trip to a seaside of coastal sauna: the UK’s hottest trend. It’s perhaps no coincidence that the Finns, inventors of the sauna, are consistently voted the world’s happiest nation…

If you know some who loves a sea sauna after wild swimming, they’ll love our best-selling foodie travel book, The Coastal Café Guide. Take a look and perhaps buy a copy now for their next birthday. They might repay you with a voucher for a sea sauna…

With sea dipping also on the rise, boasting an impressive list of health and wellbeing benefits too, sea saunas are seeing a significant rise in popularity. What better way to warm up after a dip in the surf?

Here are a few of our favourite sea saunas. Grab your cozzies and go get some yourself some Vitamin Sea.

Sea Scrub: the sea sauna in Margate

The first commercial Saunum Cube Sauna in the UK. With bluetooth speakers and adjustable lighting, the Sea Scrub sauna is the best place to enjoy the stunning views of the Margate coast line. Offering private or social sessions, depending on your preference.

Visit Sea Scrub Sauna in Margate

Sea Biscuit: a sea sauna in Aberdeen

Calling sea-swimmers in Scotland (or those who like to stay warm and on shore): here’s your ideal wood-fired horsebox sauna at Aberdeen Beach. Take five friends along to soak up views of the North Sea. Treat yourself to a Sauna Spa Platter with face mask, body scrub, fruit platter, ‘Nosecco’ (booze and saunas don’t mix, kids), flannels, and scented oil for water.

Visit Sea Biscuit Sauna, Aberdeen

For a sea sauna in Worthing: head to Fire Salt Sea

An authentic wood-fired sea sauna on the beach in Worthing with a 200kg wood-fired Estonian stove and Finnish olivine rocks. Enjoy unbroken views out to sea through the full width window. Prices haven’t been increased since 2020 to keep it affordable for all. Perfect for wild swimmers, morning dippers, and those who just love a sea sauna on the Sussex coast.

Visit Fire Salt Sea

For a sea sauna in Padstow or Polzeath: hit up Saunas by the Sea

Two first-rate North Cornwall beaches, two golden sea saunas: you’ll find Saunas by the Sea in arguably two of the most desirable beach destinations in the UK: Polzeath (one sauna’s in the village centre and one’s hidden in Baby Bay, just along the beach) and Padstow. Cosy up in the wood-fired cabins before a plunge in the sea, or warm up after as you catch some waves in the rightly-famous surf. If you’re looking for a sea sauna in Polzeath or Padstow, look no further. The Wild Spa and Wellness Centre (part of the central Polzeath offering) adds outdoor classes, yoga, workshops, and a cold plunge pool to the sauna experience.

Go to Saunas by the Sea

Seek a sea sauna in Poole? Head to The Salt Water Sauna

The Salt Water Sauna invites you to a Nordic bathing experience. It was set up by Arlene, a Finn living in the UK, who wanted to create an authentic sauna experience. Through Tree Era, for every sauna booked a tree is planted, off-setting the wood used to fire the sauna. Aficionados can also check out their winter wellness retreats, hosted in Helsinki.

Go to The Salt Water Sauna, Poole

Looking for a sea sauna in Dover? You need Rebels Sea Sauna

A café and sauna set below the iconic white cliffs of Dover. More than just a sauna, but a community hub, where you can swing by for a sauna session, Tea and Tarot, or an art exhibition – check out their socials for more info on events.

Visit Rebels Sea Sauna in Dover

Need a sea sauna in Bude? Seek out Ocean Soul Sauna

Set right on Crooklets Beach, you can enjoy the views across the wide sandy beach as you invigorate your senses. If you’re looking for a sea sauna experience in Bude, you have come to the right place. Peer through the half-moon window straight out to sea.

Visit Ocean Soul Sauna, Bude

Looking for a sea sauna in Oxwich Bay, Swansea? Try: Ty Sawna

This was Wales’ first beach sauna. Wood-fired and barrel-shaped, this sea sauna is right next to the sea at Oxwich Bay. Enjoy beautiful views of the ocean through the panoramic half moon window.

Visit Ty Sawna, Oxwich Bay

Need a sea sauna in Portsmouth? Visit Southsea Café

An independent bistro café right on the water’s edge in Eastney, the Southsea Beach Café now has a sea sauna. The sea sauna opened at the beginning of March 2024 with daily sessions bookable on their website. Ladies only sessions are often available and are bookable online, check ahead.

Sea sauna at Southsea Beach Café

Sea Sauna, Saunton

Looking for a This Nordic wood-fired sauna on wheels fits up to 12 comfortably. Set right by the water on the North Devon Coast’s renowned Saunton Sands, it allows you to take in the stunning beach in total privacy (its huge window is tinted).

Visit Sea Sauna

A great gift idea for sea swimmers and surfers, our UK coastal café and food guide makes a great gift. So if you have friends who do like to be beside the seaside (all that surfing and sauna-ing works up an appetite) buy The Coastal Café Guide, a best-selling guide to 150 brilliant cafés on the coast and at the beach.

Posted on 14/11/202414/11/2024 by The Extra Mile

PICK YOUR OWN (PYO) CHRISTMAS TREES NEAR YOU

Christmas tree image (c) OlegDoroshin, AdobeStock 459229799

Pick-your-own Christmas trees

Just when you thought Christmas couldn’t get any more magical, here we are with a list of places across the country where you can actually pick your own Christmas tree. To find more festive farm shops offering wintry fun, family Christmas tree picking, and Christmas food and farm experiences this year, order your coy of the #1 bestseller, The Farm Shop Guide, today.

Pick-your-own Christmas tree in Essex at Lathcoats Farm

Apple lovers – look no further. Fifty varieties are grown here at Lathcoats Farm over the growing season, lovingly nurtured since great-grandfather Taylor set up a fruit farm in 1912 to supply London’s Covent Garden. Sample a few in the shop or as a home-pressed apple juice; fermented versions are available for grown-ups. You’ll find them alongside still-warm bread, and a range of products from small, independent businesses across East Anglia: perhaps Suffolk salami, Latchingdon lamb, heritage tomatoes, or thick farm cream. The Bee Shed Café serves simple lunches crafted with the same tasty produce found in the shop. Grab a famous rarebit and – weather permitting – enjoy it out in the ‘Pig Pen’ while the kids visit the animals in the petting farm. The café does takeaway drinks and cakes if you’re short on time. In winter, it’s the ideal place to come to pick your own Christmas tree. Always check ahead for any availability or booking requirements.

Visit Lathcoats online to organise your Christmas farm experience today.

Head to Hawarden Estate Farm Shop for PYO Christmas trees in North Wales

In winter, the Hawarden Estate in Flintshire is the ideal place to cut your own Christmas tree and for solo and family-friendly Christmas experiences. A contagious enthusiasm for sustainability permeates this first-rate Flintshire farm shop, which is just 15 minutes from Chester. Seasonal fruit and veg are grown here and the milk from the machine is produced by the happy Ayrshire cows across the road. The 100-year-old PYO fields offer abundant summer and autumn spoils; September’s pumpkin picking is popular. Visit the airy café to taste the difference that provenance makes to flavour: try an estate-plundered breakfast, smoked trout sandwich, or Welsh rump steak. It is part of the enormous Harwarden Estate which has its own private lake, walled garden, and campsite if you want to soak up the peace of the countryside as you toast marshmallows over the campfire in summer. In winter, it’s the place to go for PYO Christmas trees. Always check ahead for any availability or booking requirements.

Visit the Hawarden Estate website to plan your Christmas experience.

PYO Christmas trees in Dorset at Gullivers Farm, Shop and Kitchen

Family-friendly café and shop, and biodynamic working farm, Gulliver’s is one-of-a-kind. Not for its summer shelves which are laden with seasonal fruits and vegetables, fresh bread, artisanal cheeses, zero-waste refills, and organic meats, but for its inclusive ethos. This not-for-profit social enterprise was created by GB Paralympian and silver medallist Bethy Woodward and her husband, retired international athlete, Lee Doran, to help adults with support needs shine. Those companions man the tills, tend the animals and polytunnels (veg, meat, eggs, and milk are produced here), and help ply tables with seasonal delights. It is a Dorset haven that feels worlds away from bustling Bournemouth nearby. Check out Wellness Yurt events and café supper clubs. Make time for the buggy, dementia, and dog-friendly Nature Trail. In winter, it’s a top spot for pick-your-own Christmas trees, as well as warming hot chocolates, delicious cakes, and an unforgettable Christmassy vibe. Always check ahead for any availability or booking requirements.

Visit Gullivers Farm to plan your PYO Christmas tree mission.

Pick your own Christmas tree at Newton Farm Shop and Café

In the picturesque village of Newton St Loe, near Bath, is the cosy Newton Farm Shop. In summer, pass barrows of blooms to find shelves and fridges crammed with local dairy products, charcuterie, and stylish homeware and gifts (the rows of artisanal beers, ciders and wines will seriously impress). This is a family-run farm and fourth-generation farmer, Josh, is passionate about regenerative practices that improve soil quality and capture carbon. He’s busy raising cattle, sheep, and pigs to keep the farm shop butchery counter brimming with home-produced beef, pork, and lamb, alongside local chicken and poultry. There are piglets, goats, wildlife-packed hedgerows, and a gorgeous 1950s tractor to keep children entertained, while you enjoy a coffee and a bite to eat in the excellent café. In winter, it’s just the place for you to come to pick your own Christmas tree. Always check ahead for any availability or booking requirements.

Find Newton Farm Shop and Café online.

Visit Spring Lane Farm Shop in Nottinghamshire to pick your own Christmas tree

Spring Lane’s oak-framed and sometimes flower-wreathed porch (in summer) gives way to a barn of delights. Regulars say their food
is ‘some of the best around’, particularly recommending the ribeye steaks, sausage rolls, freshly squeezed orange juice, and relishes. Sausages are a speciality and bread is baked on site every day, as are the cakes. Warm, friendly staff are on hand to answer any ‘how to cook it’ queries. The Spencer family first tended these fields in 1939. In the 1960s they began selling eggs and spuds from their front door and… we know the rest. Today’s farm shop still stands alongside the family’s mixed working farm, which is home to a herd of cattle, a flock of sheep, and crops of wheat and potatoes. Book a lamb bottle-feeding slot in spring for a joyful, tail-wiggling half hour in the sheep crêche. In winter, come to Spring Lane, a festive farm shop during the winter season, to pick your own Christmas trees as part of a magical, memorable day out.

Visit Spring Lane Farm Shop online.

Want to ‘PYO’ Christmas tree in Aberdeenshire? Head to Westerton Farm

The Gammie family have farmed in the Mearns for over 100 years. In that time, they’ve reared pigs and cattle, and grown flowers, potatoes, and strawberries. The focus now is on hypnotic fields of wheat and barley, with a few hectares for scrumptious, sea-breeze-bathed veggies and pumpkins. The rustic Farm to Table shop has crates of their own vegetables, local produce, and a good refill section.

Fridges of local meats, cheeses, and juices mean you can easily do the weekly shop here. Loitering is encouraged, with a kids’ play area, picnic benches, goats, and alpacas to visit; the barn is often open with kids activities, farmers’ markets, and pop-up shops. The log-burner warmed café is known for its comfy armchairs, hot drinks, toasties, and pastries – as well as serving homemade soups, bakes, and salads. In winter, the show goes on; call ahead to check on availability and opening hours then head over to pick your own Christmas tree at the wonderful Westerton Farm.

Find Westerton Farm online to organise your pick-your-own Christmas tree experience.

Find ‘cut your own Christmas tree’ locations and so much more with The Farm Shop Guide

The Farm Shop Guide (shown below over its fantastic coverage in The Times Weekend, October 2024), is an essential guide for the glovebox or coffee table of anyone who loves seeking out, supporting and celebrating local food, farms, and farm shops and cafés.

From wintry, festive and Christmassy farm experiences to farm shop cafés that can offer memorable moments in the company of your family, your dog, or simply your wonderful self, it’s packed with 165 places that offer something for everyone. Enjoy picking your own Christmas trees across Britain this winter, and use the blue button below to get your copy of the guide. It’s the perfect stocking filler for your foodie friends, and for anyone who cares about where their food comes from.

Posted on 07/11/202409/12/2024 by The Extra Mile

OUR TOP SEASIDE LIDOS AND MARINE LAKES IN THE UK

The 1920s and 1930s were boom decades for Britain’s seaside lido. Having fallen out of favour for a few years, the UK’s beloved lidos are back in vogue, with many being restored and reopened to the public. Now that wild swimming and cold-water swimming are surging in popularity (and, let’s face it, the coast never goes out of style), here are some of our favourite spots for enjoying sunshine and an open-air dip without being at the mercy of the waves. Love an open-air or sea swim while at the coast? You’ll love our best-selling and eminently giftable book: The Coastal Café Guide.

1. Looking for a lido in Plymouth? Head to Tinside Lido

A classic Art Deco complex right on the harbour under the stripey tower of Plymouth’s Hoe, the Tinside Lido is an iconic spot to splash in the water or bask on the sundeck. At 55m wide, there’s plenty of space, even on hot days. The perfect spot for some near-sea swimming in Plymouth.

2. Seeking an al fresco dip in Brixham? Shoalstone Seawater Pool, Devon

Brixham’s answer to Bondi, this seawater lido dates back to the 1890s with views over Torbay. Entry is free but please do be generous with donations – a campaign is currently underway to fix a growing crack in the 1920s foundations. Pop into the Shoals restaurant alongside to enjoy fresh seafood, or take a picnic poolside.

3. The UK's largest seawater pool: Jubilee Pool, Cornwall

This is the UK’s largest seawater swimming pool, and is now geothermally heated (although not the main pool). It was built by the good people of Penzance to commemorate King George V’s Silver Jubilee, and what a way to mark it. We recommend trying the plastic-free café, booking in for a twilight swim, or warming up with a sauna session.

4. Looking for a lovely lido in North Somerset? Portishead Open Air Pool

One of our locals at Coastal Café HQ, the Portishead lido has a special place in our hearts as the host of many a childhood summer day’s adventure. It was originally opened in 1962 and was renovated in 2008, adding jolly colours to the original concrete. It’s heated… except in winter when hardy souls can try the cold water Popsicle. With sea swimming made difficult by challenging tides around these parts, the lido is the ideal place to get an outdoor swim in at any time of year. If there’s someone in your life who loves visiting the coast, have a copy of The Coastal Café Guide in reserve for their next birthday. Coffee and cakes are on them!

5. Cold water swimming in Scotland at Stonehaven Open Air Pool, Aberdeenshire

Outdoor swimmers love this Olympic-sized seawater pool that’s strung with bunting and edged by a colourful pavilion. The paddling pool and water chute were added more recently, and it’s heated, so it’s fun for all the family. This is a lovely spot to pass sunny summer days for everyone who loves nothing more than an outdoor swim.

6. A vintage lido experience at Lymington Sea Water Baths, Hampshire

Proudly one of the oldest lidos in the UK, Lymington Sea Water Baths traces its history back to 1833. Today, they are council-owned and offer swimming, inflatable obstacle courses, and stand-up paddle boarding with views over to the Isle of Wight.

7. Fancy outdoor swimming in Brighton? Saltdean Lido, Brighton & Hove

An elegant seaside lido that has been recently restored to its former glory. Swim in the 40m heated pool, let the kids loose in the splash pool, or loll on the lawn alongside for a spot of sunbathing. Dogs are not normally allowed, but check at the end of season when a special ‘Dogtember’ day is run for furry water lovers. When the renovation is complete, the main building will also offer a café, library, and co-working space.

Posted on 06/11/202412/11/2024 by The Extra Mile

BEST-SELLING FOODIE TRAVEL GUIDES

Best seller image, (c) ibreakstock Adobe Stock 139558768

Bestselling travel guides 2024

We are Printslinger (like mud slinger, only slinging print about the place instead of mud). Home of three best-selling travel guidebooks and counting, we’re not as well known as Lonely Planet and the like. Our foodie travel books have excelled themselves in 2024 however, often beating the ‘big-hitters’ to the top spot when it comes to online book sales. Not bad for a small, independent publisher without the marketing might of the mass publishers. Long live independents!

At Printslinger, we’re driven by a desire to help you avoid boring, big-brand food and motorway services chains. We exist to help you seek out, support, and celebrate British food and Britain’s local food growers and retailers, Britain’s farmers, and independent farm shops, cafés, restaurants, coffee shops, and more. Let’s have a look at what each of our books has been up to in 2024.

The Extra Mile: a 2024 travel guide bestseller

The Extra Mile: Delicious Alternatives to Motorway Services is our flagship title. It was produced annually in 2017, 2018, and 2019. It then had a three-year holiday (and a change of hands, into our hands), and returned with a bang in 2023.

The Extra Mile (ed. 4, 2023), has 275 off-motorway places to eat near motorway junctions. It was an Amazon #1 Bestseller across several food and travel guide categories in 2023 and 2024, and is frequently on the #1 Most Gifted charts. Its return to prominence in 2024 was aided by our publisher Kerry’s appearance on BBC Breakfast in August, discussing how our books help readers find and buy local food from independent cafés and farm shops near them and while on journeys around Britain.

“Is BBC Breakfast a radio show?” asked Kerry. “No, it’s primetime morning TV with an audience of 7m people,” we said. “I’ll wash my hair.”

The Coastal Café Guide: a #1 bestselling food guide in 2024

The Coastal Café Guide was released by Printslinger in July 2024. It is packed with 150 of Britain’s best coastal cafés and places to eat, like restaurants with sea views, top spots for coffee after a surf or a wild swim, and idyllic cafés to visit while walking the coast path. The Coastal Café Guide became an #1 Amazon Hot New Release and #1 Bestseller across several foodie travel guide categories. It is a great gift for people who love the sea, seafood, sea views, and culinary adventures on the coast. It was featured in The Scotsman with a long article, had a double-page feature in The Times Weekend, and was reviewed (favourably!) in The Sun, as well as getting coverage in many local and regional outlets.

Printslinger makes a donation of 1% of book sales to Surfers Against Sewage for every book we sell, managed through the Work for Good platform.

The Farm Shop Guide: a #1 bestselling food and travel guide in 2024

The Farm Shop Guide is the third title from Printslinger to date. It has 165 fantastic farm shops and farm shop cafés and restaurants, alongside info on farmers’ markets, food festivals, and the best PYO places for pick-your-own fruit, vegetables, flowers, pumpkins, and even Christmas trees across Britain. The Farm Shop Guide had a 2.5 page feature in The Times Weekend, a double-page spread in Waitrose Weekend, a review in The Telegraph’s ‘what’s new in food’, mentions in other outlets including Cotswold Life, and a good plug on TV’s BBC Breakfast.

Printslinger makes a donation of 1% of book sales to the Sustainable Food Trust for every book we sell, managed through the Work for Good platform.

Find out more about Printslinger and our best-selling food and travel guides

Printslinger is run by Kerry O’Neill and Laura Collacott. More titles are in the pipeline, with themes broadening out from pure food and travel guides into other realms. Rest assured, they will remain independent books, about memorable places and independent businesses, created by and for independent-minded people. To browse and buy our books, visit our online bookshop (link below). To discuss stocking our current books, marketing partnerships, press, work, your own book ideas, or anything else of interest, please use our contact form, linked to below. We look forward to hearing from you.

Finally, a big thank you from us all to everyone who’s bought and enjoyed our books, shared our books and given them as presents, featured our books in their print and online coverage, actually BEEN in our books, and worked with us. We wouldn’t be where we are today without you. Thank you!