Sitting on top of a hill and boasting stunning views across rolling fields, this Cheshire farm shop makes an idylllic destination on a sunny day.
Riverside Organic Farm Shop is nestled off a country lane near Northwich in Cheshire and boasts tearooms with seating indoors and outdoors. There are also two free outdoor play areas that families love.
There is plenty of seating across the farm to admire the spectacular views across the River Dane and to the horizon - where the unusual spire of St Wilfrid's Church in Davenham can be seen. And the farm is home to some unusual animals to visit including two emus who have recently become parents to a litter of adorable emu chicks.
Read more: The Greater Manchester farm shop with brilliant outdoor play and two tearooms
Families have been full of praise for the farm on Tripadvisor, particularly loving the two free to use play areas. The first is a contained play area close to the cafe with little tikes equipment suitable for younger children.
Then venture a little further along the hillside and you'll find a brilliant adventure park, with large tyres to jump on and through, alongside a full wooden play frame with slides and swings. All while still looking out across the beautiful countryside views.
Next to the playpark kids will also love to visit the farm's resident animals - including goats, pigs and sheep. It's free to visit them, but you can buy bags of feed in the farm shop for £1.50 if you wish.
And the star attraction here are the farm's two adult emu birds. Their first babies were born last month and they've just been taken outside so visitors can get to see them over the weekend for the first time.
The farm shared an image of the cute striped chicks on their Instagram page at the end of March which swiftly racked up the likes. They captioned the photo: "First ever home bred emu".
And this week the first lambs of the Spring were also born at the farm. There's also a newborn baby calf who is refusing to take his mum's milk so visitors can see him being bottlefed by staff this month.
On tripadvisor, reviewers have hailed the farm shop as a "hidden gem" in Cheshire and "a wonderful place for kiddies".
Sightseer said: "A lovely “hidden gem” in the countryside. Great for lunch, fresh air and something for the kids to do and see. We had yummy ice cream and a babycinno for the kids.
"Especially great for families with young children and toddlers."
Reviewer Jason said: "Love visiting this business situated with one of the most beautiful backdrops in the Northwich area with stunning views! The food and beverage is fresh and homemade,value for money!
"Dog friendly, children love the animals and play area, great credit to the owners and the customers who get to enjoy your beverages in tranquility over looking beautiful Vale Royal countryside!"
Sarah O was similarly wowed, writing: "Beautiful countryside setting for this delightful hidden gem of a place... Wonderful place for kiddies, with play area and various animals to see."
The farm itself is known for its organic produce, hence its name, with all home-reared lamb and beef which can be purchased in the shop as well as ordered online. The shop also sells free range pork, chicken and sausages and organic burgers.
There's a daily changing range of home-made cakes, while visitors can choose from a range of ice cream flavours in the shop from Snugburys, which is made just down the road in Nantwich.
There's also a range of hot and cold snacks available from the cafe each day, including breakfast baps from £5,25, paninis from £5.25 and jacket potatoes from £3.50. There's a large tearooms indoors featuring a host of wood carved sculptures, as well as a partially covered outdoor seating area.
The farm has been run by the Bennett family for almost 100 years and Simon Bennett, 47, now manages the farm alongside his parents.
He said: "My grandparents took on the farm in 1939 and we've been farming here as a family ever since. My mum was actually born in the front room of the farm!
"In 2005 I felt like we were producing very good cattle and sheep but not necessarily getting the best price for it, so that's when we set up our own direct market. It went very well, so we altered one of the buildings to set up a little shop.
"We selling our own lamb and beef and organic vegetables, and the business has all grown from there really as Riverside Organic.
"We set up the cafe five years ago alongside it. We try to be a proper farm shop rather than just a shop that's on a farm, so we retail as much as we can off the farm as we can.
"We created the play areas as somewhere people with young families can come without having to spend a fortune. We hold quite frequent events in the summer as well like tractor rides."
Simon added that they also get a lot of walkers and cyclists popping in to the farm shop, as there are plenty of great trails in the local area, including along the nearby Trent and Mersey Canal. Just along the lane from the farm is the Oakwood Marina where a number of canal boats are moored.
Simon said: "People who enjoy a walk love to come out here as there's loads of things for people to do.
"There are a few footpaths that traverse the farm, but if you walk past the farm you can get to the Trent and Mersey Canal and you can do a circular walk of around four miles there. It's all flat so it's quite a good one to do if you have small children."
How to get there
Riverside Organic is on Manor Lane, Davenham, Northwich with the postcode CW9 7RH. It is a couple of minutes off the main A556 road that runs through Northwich.
The shop opens Tuesday to Saturday 9am to 4pm, and on Sundays from 10am to 4pm although will be closed on Easter Sunday. It does not open on Mondays.
The farm is free to enter, and there is free parking at the farm itself and an overspill car park in the adjoining field.
Read next:-
- The incredible outdoor playpark named visitor attraction of the year
- The all-pink subway train where you can eat your Archie's burger and shakes
- The "little villages" you can hire for parties that kids love
- The £4-a-go swimming pool in Greater Manchester with rapids
- I tried the award-winning chippy that has queues round the corner
