Ten Acres Vineyard
UK England South West England Devon Chulmleigh, Winkleigh & Umberleigh
Ten Acres, Winkleigh, Devon EX19 8EY
Straw bales scattered across golden fields, a tractor humming on the road, sun baked south-facing slopes striped with the regimented lines of a vineyard, ripening grapes awaiting the busy harvest and all just 40 minutes' drive from a cluster of sandy beaches. Hang on though... surely there’s been a mistake here? Has an overzealous camper had too much of the local merlot? You say this bucolic summer haven is in England?!
Though it may sound like a scene plucked from France’s best Loire Valley guidebook, if you head to Devon and down a small country track beyond the thatched village of Winkleigh, you’ll see for yourself that this dreamy little campsite is more than a wine-induced mirage. Set on a grassy one acre meadow with just 15 pitches in total, Ten Acres Vineyard is a real rural gem – a secluded camping patch in the midst of a working vineyard. Take a stroll through the vines using the signposts and onsite information before popping into the winery to watch the grapes being pressed, breathing in the aroma of the fermenting juices. On weekends, the campsite’s shop always has a bottle of their best plonk uncorked, so after a tour you can taste the spoils of all that hard work... and more than likely take a bottle or two away with you – for your friends, of course.
With views over the vineyard to the agricultural landscapes beyond and the rugged moorland of Dartmoor National Park, Ten Acres has an eco-friendly simplicity that compliments its surroundings. There's a shower and a compost loo, along with a chemical-disposal point, while the shared campfire places are a good place to shoot the breeze with your fellow campers. Dogs are welcome, though kept on a lead so they don’t disturb the sheep, pigs or hens that also live on site.
For those who don't fancy lugging their camping gear with them, guests can opt for one (or both) of the two unfurnished 4 and 5m bell tents, sleeping a couple and up to 6 adults respectively (although there's ample room for families to squeeze in a few extra littl'uns). A brazier is also kindly provided. Or why not combine a bell tent break with a guided vineyard and winery tour and tasting? Whatever pitch you opt for, the fact that there's acres of space for just a few pitches ensures you'll find a spot to suit. The adjacent field next is heaven-sent – ideal for children to play in, dogs to be walked in or simply to unwind with the sounds of nature and a good book to get lost in.
If the rusticity of this pastoral smallholding isn't enough, a wander up the track lies the local village of Winkleigh – a quintessentially English settlement with thatched roofs and a traditional feel. Winkleigh has a fascinating history with two 12th century castles (now nothing more than large mounds), a 14th century church and an old wartime airfield where the rusting remains of a control tower still stands. A pair of pubs and pleasant tearooms make it an enjoyable place to have lunch before venturing further afield. By car the beaches of north and south Devon are just over a half hour's drive away, while the vast national park of Dartmoor with its famously picturesque granite scenery lies closer still. It's an ideal area for walking or cycling with the start of the Tarka Trail nearby as well as the Two Moors Way, a footpath connecting the two Devon coasts. Cruise the purpose built cycleways along old rail roads and viaducts with panoramic views, before pedalling the quiet lanes back to camp.
Back at camp, a quick blow on the embers will rekindle the morning's fire then all that remains is to dig out that corkscrew. Sit back with a glass of the site's own vino and enjoy the tranquility of Ten Acres Vineyard, a summer retreat without the air miles.
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The Owner Says
Our unique campsite is set in the peaceful beautiful countryside of rural Devon. Camp above our vineyard with views of Dartmoor where you can join us on a guided tour of the vineyard/winery and taste our wines.Reviews
Add Your ReviewEverything was fantastic, so welcoming!
Great views, hosts and wine!
Lovely get away
A gem of a campsite
Small is beautiful
Gem of Devon
The owner is the coolest person I've ever met
Wonderful retreat in Ten Acres
Romantic and relaxing!
Struggling to find a better campsite
We stayed with Esther & Toby in May half term and now we are looking for a site closer to home for the summer holidays we are struggling to find one which compares! Ten Acres is away from everything, with lovely views, not too many pitches, star filled skies and generous hosts. We really enjoyed learning all about English wine with Toby, and we especially enjoyed drinking it! English wine, it turns out, can be delicious when the vines are so carefully tended by a loving vintner. We were a little worried the one shower and one loo would not be enough, but even with a fair few guests we never wanted for more. It is a place away from it all to relax and recharge. If only you were closer than a 5 hour drive....
Excellent site even better hosts
Hi,
We have just spent a week at Ten Acres, the camp site was great with wonderful views over to Dartmoor. Esther and Toby are the best of hosts; nothing too much trouble. Will be visiting again this summer. Highly recommended if you want a quiet time in a lovely environment.
Quaint & quiet
A lovely little campsite: very quiet; nothing was too much trouble for Esther and Toby. Would highly recommend the vineyard tour. We hope to be back soon!! Thank you :)
Lovely family campsite
We've had a lovely camp at Ten Acres. It is perfect for families with young children where they can play safely.
The site is scenic and peaceful and a camp fire in the evening makes the perfect end to the day.
Toby and Esther are the owners of Ten Acres and are incredibly friendly and helpful. There is a small shop on site that sells wine, beer, firewood and basics. There is also a nice play area for children.
There is one toilet and shower on site though an extra chemical loo is added during busy periods. However the site is small and we never had to queue for the facilities (which were nice and clean!)
Recommended!
Perfect!
Just our kind of site; plenty of space for the kids to play, campfires a plenty, wine and big open skies. Facilities are basic, but perfectly adequate - perhaps they could benefit from one more compost loo and one more shower, and a covered washing up area - but we didn't have to wait too long to use the facilities. We would definitely return, thank you for a lovely week.
Something a bit special with Super hosts!!
We stayed here for 2 nights as a group of 4, 30 somethings, and we couldn't have had a better stay. Esther and Toby were really great hosts, incredibly friendly and hospitable. They are incredibly accommodating and generous. The wine tour which Toby does is really interesting and a really unique aspect to this site; try their wines, very nice! The facilities are simple yet very clean and well managed. The views of the rolling hills and the vineyard are very nice. The local village is worth a stroll, and if you're having a BBQ get your meat from the 'mad butcher'. We will be heading back again later this year, as Ten acres has what we want from a campsite; the feeling of really getting stuck into nature and getting away from it all, whilst having the home comforts of a warm shower, clean toilets, a unique selling point in its vineyard, and above all really friendly hosts, who are commendably promoting local business by selling some really great unique bespoke local works. We bought two great stoves built by friends of theirs. Worth a trip in itself! Long story short, go there and make it one of your favourites! Thanks again to Esther and Toby....Dave (15-17th May 2015)
Gem of a campsite with fabulous hosts!
My partner and I were lucky enough to stumble across this fab campsite online and booked to stay for the first weekend of their camping season.
Despite the wind and rain when we arrived, the campsite lived up to our expectations. We were warmly greeted by Esther who showed us the essentials before leaving us to put up our tent. This is where things got interesting! Expecting soggy weather, friends had lent us a slightly larger tent for our trip. Unfortunately for us, this tent was missing some vital parts! After battling in the weather, we abandoned the mission and sought Esther's local knowledge on nearby tent retailers!! She came up trumps and kindly offered to lend us their tent for the evening. What a star!! What's more, she offered us emergency accommodation for our second night in the shape of their retro caravan.
This kindness and generosity sums up our experience at Ten Acres. It is a truly beautiful and peaceful campsite in a fantastic spot in the heart of Devon. The fact that they produce top notch wine is an absolute bonus! The site is peaceful and clean and within walking distance of Winkleigh village despite its remote feel. Toby and Esther are fantastic, warm hosts who make you feel like you're staying with friends. They saved our weekend and we will certainly be returning in the near future.
Thank you :-)
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