WE decided to take a different route to Scarborough and investigate a venue mentioned to us by residents of Guardian Court.

There is more than just a caf on this site. We spotted a children's playground, farm animals, a bird of prey centre, honey shop plus a farm shop, bakery and more.

The caf is open daily at this time of the year. Wheelchair access would be possible, although the unmade car park could make the going tough.

We were warmly greeted as we arrived for an early lunch. Was it the wet weather that made us the only customers? Probably, although other snackers arrived before we left.

Apart from the printed menu, more items were listed on a board behind the servery. We ordered a pot of tea for two (£2.60). Coffee was £1.25 per cup. The tea was excellent. The coasters on the saucers advertised Taylors of Harrogate. The teapot poured perfectly.

Ann could not resist the homemade mushroom soup with a roll (£2.95). It was clearly homemade, boiling hot and after half a spoonful Ann declared it "delicious".

There was no shortage of choice. Yorkshire gammon, egg and chips (£6.95), Whitby scampi and chips (£6.95) and mushrooms on toast (£3.95) were just some of the available items.

There were also savouries, jacket potatoes and sandwiches.

I chose a brown bread hot bacon sandwich (£3.45). The bacon was very tasty and I wondered if it came from one of the growing number of rare-breed farms. Garnished with coleslaw, lettuce, tomato and cucumber this was a good beginning.

We revisited the counter to select a piece of Yorkshire curd tart for Ann and a generous slice of coffee cake for me, for a combined price of £3.25. The pastry on the tart was dry and my cake was much the same although the substantial coffee cream helped.

The menu had warned us that as everything is freshly prepared, there may be a delay'. We also discovered that a traditional Sunday lunch costs £6.95 and that a Christmas menu is available throughout December.

The caf looks to be a barn conversion but central heating and additional free-standing heaters should make it a comfortable winter venue.

We understood that the business had changed hands in recent months.The site is attractively maintained with the caf, bakery and shop around an area of well-maintained grass.

We were surprised to find that Scarborough was less than six miles away.