Quince Honey Farm

Quince Honey Farm: a working honey farm and family attraction in North Devon

Quince Honey Farm is a family-run working honey farm and visitor attraction located just outside South Molton, Devon. First established in 1949, the farm is now in its third generation of beekeepers and welcomes visitors for a full day out. The site combines honey production with public attractions including guided tours, exhibitions, gardens, play areas and a restaurant.

The farm describes itself as one of Britain's leading honey farms and notes that it opened at its current 54-acre site at Aller Cross in April 2019, having previously operated from smaller premises in South Molton.

Attractions and daily activities

The attraction offers a range of indoor and outdoor activities designed for all ages. Visitors can join daily guided tours and activities, including a Honey Factory Tour & Tasting and a demonstration titled All About the Honeybee. The Education Team leads daily Beekeeping Demonstrations where a hive may be opened for visitors to see bees up close.

Other attractions include:

• The Play Hive, a large indoor soft play area, plus an outdoor play area.
• Nectar Gardens, hexagonal-themed gardens displaying thousands of bee-friendly plants.
• Meadow trails and a sculpture trail.
• Exhibitions on honeybees.
• Beeswax and candle rolling activities.
• Events, talks and workshops.

The farm also offers exclusive beekeeping experiences: a Beekeeping Introduction Course and An Hour with the Bees, intended for those who want to learn more about beekeeping.

Gardens, sustainability and accessibility

The Nectar Gardens are designed to attract pollinators and are part of the farm's outdoor offering. The site states that 6,130 trees have been planted since 2019. The entire attraction is described as accessible, with level access to all buildings, easy-to-navigate paths through the central Nectar Gardens, disabled parking bays near the main entrance and accessible toilets in all main buildings. All daily activities are accessible to wheelchair users.

Dog-friendly policy

Well-behaved dogs on leads are welcome everywhere on the site except the indoor soft play area, the Play Hive. Assistance dogs are allowed in all areas. Poo bins are situated around the site, spare bags are available at the shop, water bowls are placed around the attraction and free doggie treats are offered.

Nectary Restaurant and shop

The Nectary Restaurant serves homemade meals, light bites, cakes and drinks, with views of the gardens and bees. The on-site shop sells honey and related products. The farm also offers memberships for frequent visitors.

Schools, groups and events

Quince Honey Farm accommodates schools and groups, and hosts events, talks and workshops. The farm is situated on the edge of Exmoor and within reach of the coast, and welcomes visitors from Barnstaple, Bideford, Braunton, Chulmleigh, Tiverton, Torrington and Umberleigh, as well as the wider North Devon area.

History and beekeeping heritage

Quince Honey Farm was founded in 1949 by George Wallace, a former paratrooper who became interested in beekeeping near the end of his military service. He started with two hives at Quince Cottage in North Devon. The business moved to South Molton in 1959, and by the early 1970s, with sons Paddy and Jon involved, hive numbers grew from 750 to 1,500. In 1978 the farm relocated to the Old Work House in South Molton, where it remained for 40 years. During the 1980s the family developed a honeybee exhibition that the farm describes as the most extensive in the world, and Paddy's mechanically operated observation hives gained recognition among beekeepers. In the 1990s new products including skin care items, honey marmalade, honey mustard, honey chutney and furniture polishes were developed. Ian, Paddy and Jean's son, joined the business full time in 2004 and later led the move to the current Aller Cross site, which opened in April 2019.