There are a whole host of events taking place this autumn aimed at celebrating local food and drink. Tutored cheese tastings, milking demonstrations and orchard tours are just some of the events at this year's South Somerset Food Festival, which r...

South Somerset Food Festival

27 September - 5 October

This year's South Somerset Food Festival features more than 40 events, ranging from farm walks to cheese-tastings, and Thai cookery demonstrations to cider orchard tours.

Well-known gardener and writer Charles Dowding is getting involved in the festival for the first time, offering a chance to visit his gardens in Shepton Montague on 27 September, where he and his wife, Susie, grow a range of high-quality salad leaves using a technique of no digging or cultivation.

There is a special open afternoon at Overton Farm in Babcary on 27 September, where visitors will have a chance to sample their smoothies and yoghurts produced with milk from their Guernsey cows, as well as watching a milking demonstration and the feeding of the calves.

Another well-known company taking part in the festival is the Somerset Cider Brandy Company, which is offering tours of the orchards at Burrow Hill on 27 and 28 September and 4 and 5 October, all at 3pm. The free tour will also include the history of cider-making and an insight into the world of a cider-maker.

For a full list of festival events visit www.southsomersetfoodfestival.com or pick up a guide at a local TIC (tel 01935 845946).

Exmoor Food Festival

4-12 October

Exmoor Food Festival was set up by the South West Regional Development Agency in 2002 to help local businesses suffering as a result of the foot-and-mouth disease crisis. The festival attracts people to the area outside peak holiday times, which means local accommodation providers, producers and restaurants reap the benefits of a longer season.

Firm favourites such as the Porlock Food Fayre, Breakfast at the Heart of Exmoor, Styles Ice Cream Open Day and Exmoor Dinners at Ranscombe Farm Restaurant are again on the menu this year.

New events to tickle the taste buds include Wild Food at Wimbleball, Porlock Tea Party, Moroccan evening in the Creamery, Minehead, Alta Lyn Alpaca Open Day, jazz and local food evening at North Walk House at Lynton and gourmet dinners with top tips from the chef at the Yarn Market Hotel in Dunster.

Programmes for the Exmoor Food Festival are available at TICs, or get more information at www.exmoorevents.co.uk, www.exmoor.com or by calling tel 01643 821425.

Mendip Food & Drink Festival

24 October - 2 November

Martin Blunos, who is seen regularly on our television screens in programmes such as BBC1's 'Saturday Kitchen', is flying the flag for Mendip's delicious array of food and drink at the 10-day Mendip Food & Drink Festival.

"The Mendip Food and Drink Festival is a perfect opportunity to highlight what the area has to offer. The whole of the Westcountry is a great area for locally grown produce, and Mendip certainly plays a big part in that," says Martin Blunos.

There's a whole host of events taking place, including a safari supper in Wells on 30 October and on 25 October The Orchard Pig will be staging tours of their crushing and bottling plants and guided foraging tours, after which there will be tastings and a barbeque. Throughout the festival you can step back in time and discover the sorts of food and drink that were once available to the monks of Glastonbury Abbey.

For more information visit www.mendipfoodfestival.co.uk or call 08444 154880.