The Garlic Farm

Rows of purple-flowered alliums stretch across the fields like something from a fairy tale, but the real magic happens when you catch the scent on the wind. This working farm near Sandown grows over forty varieties of garlic and produces everything from smoked garlic to black garlic ice cream - yes, really. The shop is an Aladdin's cave of garlic-infused products, from the obvious mayonnaise and oils to the frankly bonkers garlic beer and chocolate. Kids will either love the novelty or wrinkle their noses in horror. No middle ground. The purple garlic fields are at their most photogenic in late June and July, though the shop operates year-round with tours available during growing season. You can easily spend an hour here sampling products and wandering the visitor area, though garlic enthusiasts might linger longer. Staff are properly passionate about their produce and happy to explain the difference between hardneck and softneck varieties. It's a quirky stop that works well with a stay at nearby Cheverton Copse Holiday Park or Ninham Country Holidays. Fair warning though - you'll smell faintly of garlic for the rest of the day, which might not endear you to fellow campers.