A Slower Season to Reflect
Hello Honey Monsters, Marta here. After the whirlwind of the Royal Highland Show, a new shop opening, and a busy beekeeping season, the quieter autumn days have finally given me space to reflect on my visit to France earlier in the year. It was a small trip, but one that stayed with me long after I returned home, and now feels like the right moment to share it. The cosy season is beginning to settle in, and I feel like this memory fits the more gentle pace before the festive rush begins.
Finding Wild Oak Woods
I stayed at Wild Oak Woods, a quiet spot in the French countryside hosted by Becky’s Bees. Becky is a fellow beekeeper and honey enthusiast who we first connected with through Instagram after she shared a list of our honeys she hoped to try. We sent them over, and not long after, I found myself flying to France and staying in the very place where she keeps her bees.
Wild Oak Woods is a lovingly restored barn surrounded by woodland where birds sing from morning to evening and the whole place feels calm and unhurried. Shelves are lined with bee books, many I hadn’t seen before, and there was also a cupboard full of games. It’s a really lovely family home surrounded by nature and I highly recommend it to anyone looking to escape and unwind. With space to grow food, tend bees, chase chickens, and let the kids run wild, it truly is a place built around nature. I was one of Becky’s very first guests, which made my stay feel even more special.
Morning Coffee with Ivy Honey
During my stay, Becky left a small batch French Ivy Honey in the barn for me. I had it every morning with my coffee. Delicately creamed and produced by a small community north of Becky’s place, it reminded me of our own Soft Set Honey. A small gift that quickly became part of my morning routine, one I looked forward to.
Evenings by the Fire
Over two evenings, Becky welcomed me for dinner, followed by cheese and honey tastings beside the fire. We explored honeys from India, several French varieties, and our own Scottish Heather Honey. Seeing someone try Heather Honey for the first time is always a highlight. Its depth and character naturally stand apart, and Becky had plenty of thoughts as she tasted it.
The woodland setting made those evenings feel especially memorable. Quiet, green, and filled with birdsong, it was the perfect place to slow down and take everything in. Evenings by the fire, great company, and of course lots of honey.
Tasting Honeys from Different Landscapes
New honeys always get me excited, and it’s fascinating tasting how different they can be from one another, but sometimes surprisingly similar. Here’s a few I tried while I was in France.
Curryleaf Flower Honey
From the foothills of the Shivaliks in India, it had fresh notes somewhere between our Linden and Phacelia. Delicate like Phacelia but fresher and more floral, similar to our Linden.
Bharmour Forest Honey
From the Chamba Valley of Himachal Pradesh in India, it tasted classic and gentle. I joked that it tasted “more honey honey”, the way I sometimes describe a familiar, traditional honey flavour when chatting with customers. Soft, comforting, and close to our Scottish Blossom Honey.
Rhododendron Honey
From high up in the Pyrenees in France, it was very delicate and floral with rose-like notes. It reminded me of our Rose Infused Honey, though lighter. Bees in France do collect rhododendron nectar, which is unusual in many other regions.
French Ivy Honey
From a small farm north of Becky’s place called Ferme de Bassoul, in Mas de Bassoul. It was delicately creamed. Very similar to our Spring Soft Set Honey.
A Picnic above the Valley
I also visited Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val, where I stopped at Roc d’Anglars for a cheese picnic with a view of the valley and cliffs. I paired our Hot Toddy Honey with Tomme de Brebis from a small producer, fig confiture, and local walnuts. It was a simple, beautiful evening outdoors before heading on to Saint-Cirq-Lapopie.
A Connection that Grew from a Jar of Honey
I love finding other beekeepers like Becky, people who take the craft as seriously as I do and are just as fascinated by honey flavours. It’s interesting how honey connects people, places, and cultures in unexpected ways. It’s a small world when you work with bees, connections often begin over something as simple as a jar sent across borders. It was a small moment in the year, but one that stayed with me.
A Warm Memory for the Colder Months
As the seasons change and we move into the cosy months before Christmas, it feels like the right time to revisit this memory. I loved my visit and am already looking forward to my next trip to France. I am grateful to Becky for the hospitality, the company, and the shared passion for beekeeping that brought this story to life.
