Sitting on a wooden stump, hidden from the view of passers-by by a gorgeous camellia in full bloom, I break a corner off a chunk of freshly-cut Wookey Hole cheddar and pop it into my mouth as my fellow explorer wraps his in slices of spicy salami. Cheeky little sparrows hop by, hoping to snaffle crumbs from any unattended wax paper. It's a perfect picnic. We're at High Ash Farm in Abbots Bromley, a village on the other side of Cannock Chase . I'd come to visit the little cheese shop that has gained national recognition but in doing so, had happened upon what feels like a Hobbity scene from a Tolkien story. The farm courtyard is home to a series of little independent shops and nooks for sitting in, including an old Edwardian-era brick coffee shop called Cobwebs. Complete with funny little spidery stained glass windows, sweet wood smoke from the pizza oven chuffs out of the chimney and makes the whole area smell beautiful. Read more: The village near a gorgeous lake with 'best' cheese shop and curious ancient custom Sign up for the Brum Food Club free weekly newsletter for updates on what's happening in the city's food and drink scene . New openings, closures, restaurant reviews and more, you can sign up here, you'll find it under 'Lifestyle' . Round by the car park, horses are whinning in their stables as a little girl brushes the legs of her horse at bathtime. In another building there's a roomful of antiques, another acts as a wine cellar while a corner boutique sells pretty bottles of gin. There's even a vending machine for pouring your own farm-fresh milk. The 'Hobbity' farm near Cannock Chase with cute cafe and independent shops View gallery There's a pie shop, a hair dresser and a room of printed photographs for sale. Alex, the owner of the Cheese Locker where we'd picked up paper bundles of cheeses and meats, crackers and kombucha, had pointed us in the direction of The Tea Bees tea shop where I picked up a fragrant bag of loose leaf 'pina colada' pineapple and coconut brew. The cakes at Cobwebs are worth grabbing too, he'd said, so we join the queue to grab some with coffee. The village of Abbots Bromley has a curious annual tradition , an age-old dance featuring horns that carbon dating shows could have been brought here by the Vikings. Old black and white pictures of villagers wearing them are hanging on the wall in Cobwebs, flashed with colour by the stained glass. The queue is long but the cakes are worth the wait. There's loads of options and more being brought in as we stand in line. I overlook a raspberry ripple cake, skip the Galaxy one and lament an empty coffee and walnut cloche just as a lemon snowball sponge, covered in meringue, arrives from the kitchen to save the day. There are covered nooks in The Stumpery in which to sit and enjoy the food as well as the outdoor stumps where we'd had our picnic. The round, Hobbit hole doorways and windows lead to fireplaces and ivy-covered walls. It's absolutely adorable. We'd spent our morning exploring the trails at Blithfield Reservoir, taking an accessible trail to a bird hide where we'd spotted some birds for the first ever time - a pair of great spotted woodpeckers and a picture-perfect mandarin foraging near a pheasant while a dozen blue and great tits swooped overhead. Adventuring is hungry work. The giant slices of cake from Cobwebs are gorgeous, moist and flavourful. I wish I'd left space to try one of their freshly-baked pizzas (£7.50), £5.50 jacket potatoes or £6 stuffed naans, but you have to pick your battles. On a Friday night they're open from 5pm until 8pm for pizza and I definitely have to go back on a balmy summer night, they serve alcohol at the bar then too. If you're visiting Cannock Chase this spring, or you're heading to Abbots Bromley to explore the beautiful reservoir, this farm is definitely worth a pit-stop. It's at Goose Lane, WS15 3DF. I can definitely recommend that pina colada tea too if you're swinging by Tea Bees, I'm sipping it as I write! This review is independent and food and drinks were paid for by the reviewer.