Combe Head Meadow Vineyard: A Heritage Mid Devon Vineyard Reborn
Tucked away in the rolling countryside of Mid Devon, close to the market town of Crediton and within sight of Dartmoor, Combe Head Meadow Vineyard is one of the county's quietly fascinating wine stories. Originally planted in the 1980s, this south-west facing slope is classified as a heritage vineyard, making it one of the older established sites in Devon. After years of being left wild, the vineyard has been painstakingly restored by its new custodians and produced its first modern harvest in autumn 2024.
The vineyard sits within a broader seven-acre smallholding that combines vine growing, an orchard, market garden, apiary, hydroponic growing, rare breed livestock and welcoming farm accommodation. It is a true diversification story - a family-run farm that aims to put Mid Devon agritourism firmly on the map.
Location and Setting
Combe Head Meadow lies near the hamlet of Hillerton, just outside Crediton in Devon. The postcode for sat-navs and online mapping services is EX17 5AA. The site enjoys a sheltered, south-facing slope with sweeping views towards Dartmoor, conditions that have helped support vine growing on this land for several decades. Mid Devon's relatively high rainfall and cooler climate make it a challenging but rewarding place to grow grapes, and the site's heritage status recognises the long history of viticulture here.
The Story Behind the Vineyard
The vineyard is believed to have been first planted in the 1980s. For many years it was neglected, but in July 2022 the farm was purchased by Nathan and Sarah Charker. The couple had spent fifteen years living and working on the edge of the Peak District in Derbyshire, but family ties to Devon and the prospect of building a small farm from scratch drew them south-west.
From the moment they first walked the site, they saw its potential - both as a productive smallholding and as a base for agritourism. Restoring the overgrown vineyard was an obvious priority, and the family committed to a long programme of clearing and re-trellising the rows. After two years of hard work, the first modern harvest was finally picked in autumn 2024.
The Grape Varieties
The vineyard is planted primarily with Madeleine Angevine, a white variety that was popular across the West Country in the late twentieth century thanks to its tolerance of higher rainfall. The owners affectionately refer to it as Mad Angie. Picked early, Madeleine Angevine yields wines with crisp acidity, light floral aromas and flavours of lemon and green apple. The variety demands attention in the vineyard - it is highly susceptible to disease and wasps - but the rewards are worth the effort.
Pinot Noir
The final two rows of the vineyard are dedicated to Pinot Noir, a red variety that has become increasingly popular across Britain. Pinot Noir is now the second most widely planted grape in the UK. Producing a still red wine in Britain is notoriously difficult given the lower sunshine levels compared to continental Europe, but the variety remains a key ingredient in fine English sparkling wines and is increasingly used in still and rosé styles.
Seyval Blanc
At some point between the original planting and the present day, a previous owner infilled gaps in the vineyard with Seyval Blanc, a hardy and reliable hybrid variety widely used in English sparkling wine production. Seyval Blanc is late ripening, but its excellent disease resistance goes a long way to explaining why it was chosen as a gap-filler. Visitors to the vineyard are invited to see if they can spot the Seyval Blanc vines hidden among the Madeleine Angevine.
Beyond the Vines: A Diversified Smallholding
Although the vineyard takes centre stage, Combe Head Meadow is, at heart, a diverse small family farm. The seven acres include an orchard, a market garden, a poly tunnel for salad and hydroponic growing, beehives and pasture for livestock.
Farm Produce and the On-site Shop
Combe Head Meadow runs a small self-service farm shop directly on the farm, allowing visitors to buy produce that has been grown or raised on site or sourced from a handful of carefully chosen local partners. The range is impressively broad for such a modest site and includes:
- Bags of mixed salad leaves grown in the poly tunnel
- Rhubarb from the market garden
- Seasonal fruit and vegetables
- Free range eggs
- Woodland-reared pork
- Christmas turkeys (available by pre-order only)
- Honey harvested from the farm's own apiary
- Apples from the orchard
- Dartmoor lamb
All stock is seasonal and subject to availability, but the breadth of what is grown or raised on a seven-acre site is genuinely remarkable. For a smallholding that began with the family "getting stuck straight in" in their first six months on site - Christmas turkeys, rare breed pork, free range eggs, salads and vegetables - the shop has quickly grown into a one-stop farm shop for local food lovers.
Hydroponics
Alongside the soil-grown produce, the family runs a hydroponic growing operation that produces fresh greens under controlled conditions. Hydroponics is one of the planned experience-day topics, with visitors set to learn how plants can be grown without soil and how this technique complements traditional market gardening.
Bees and Honey
The farm hosts its own beehives, and honey harvested from the apiary forms one of the most popular lines in the shop. Bees are an essential part of the farm's ecosystem, supporting pollination across the orchard, vineyard and market garden.
The Olde English 'Babydoll' Southdowns
One of the most charming features of Combe Head Meadow is its small breeding flock of Olde English 'Babydoll' Southdowns. These miniature sheep, with their distinctive teddy-bear faces and gentle temperament, are now rare in the UK, with only a handful of registered flocks remaining.
The breed originates from the historic Southdown flocks of England and is prized for its efficient grazing habits. Babydolls are perfectly sized for vineyards: small enough to graze comfortably beneath the vine canopy without damaging the grapes or foliage, and selective enough in their feeding that they help manage grass and weeds between the rows. This reduces the need for mechanical mowing and supports a more sustainable, low-impact approach to vineyard care.
The flock also plays a key role in managing the farm's ancient meadow and is a firm favourite with the glamping guests who stay on site. The family breeds from its ewes every year, with a limited number of Babydoll lambs for sale every spring. Demand is high, and prospective keepers are invited to join the waiting list - note that the earliest availability is currently spring 2027.
Farm Stays at Combe Head Meadow
Combe Head Meadow offers three distinctive farm stay experiences, each one designed to help guests slow down, enjoy the Devon countryside and engage with the working farm.
Vineyard Belle
Vineyard Belle is the property's classic bell tent, pitched in the top corner of the two-acre vineyard. Sleeping 2 - 4, it comes with its own private converted horsebox bathroom and kitchen. Features include a chunky rustic pine double bed, two children's mattresses, a private decking area and a roll-top bath ("view optional!"). Further children's or teen tents can be accommodated by prior arrangement, making it ideal for a small family escape. The Vineyard Belle is available to book on Airbnb.
Dartmoor View
Dartmoor View is a self-contained tiny house with a shower room and kitchen, set in the top corner of the paddock with stunning views towards Dartmoor. It sleeps 2 - 4, featuring a double bed and pop-up bunk beds (with a top bunk weight limit of 60 kg), an off-grid setup, a fire pit and a comfortable seating area. Book Dartmoor View on Airbnb.
Meadow Safari
A third accommodation, the Meadow Safari, is planned as a generously sized safari tent with stunning views and a focus on accessibility. It will sleep 4 - 6, with parking by the tent, a double room, a twin room, a sofa bed and an accessible shower room. Further details are to be confirmed, with a launch date still to be announced.
Experience Days
Coming soon, Combe Head Meadow plans to host hands-on experience days in both viticulture and hydroponic growing. Visitors will be able to book a half or full day session to learn the principles behind running a vineyard and soilless growing operation, with practical content designed for enthusiasts, gardeners and aspiring smallholders.
Visiting and Contact
The farm is located at Hillerton, Crediton, Devon, EX17 5AA. The farm shop is self-service, so guests can pop in during opening hours, browse the seasonal produce and pay directly. Glamping guests are met on arrival and given a tour of the smallholding, including the chance to feed the animals and wander among the vines.
Bookings can be made directly via the Vineyard Belle and Dartmoor View Airbnb listings, and general enquiries can be sent through the farm's online contact form.
A Vineyard with a Future
Combe Head Meadow may be a young estate in its current form, but it is built on the bones of one of Devon's heritage vineyards. With its first modern harvest under its belt, a clear vision for diversification through farm stays, experience days and farm produce, and a charming flock of rare breed sheep keeping the undervine growth in check, the future looks bright. Visitors who make the trip to Mid Devon can expect a warm welcome, a glass of something local in the pipeline, and a real sense of a family farm coming to life.