Ten Acres Vineyard & The Devon Wine Shack: A Working Vineyard, Campsite and Glamping Retreat in Winkleigh, Devon
A Hidden Devon Vineyard Where Wine, Camping and Dark Skies Meet
Half a mile down a quiet Devon lane, on the sun-warmed southern slope of a former wartime airfield, a vineyard of more than 2,500 vines looks out across rolling farmland towards the peaks of Dartmoor. This is Ten Acres Vineyard, a small, family-run winery tucked into the unspoilt countryside near the thatched village of Winkleigh in mid-Devon. It is also a peaceful one-acre campsite, a pair of boutique glamping retreats, and the home of The Devon Wine Shack - the on-site shop where the vineyard's own still and sparkling wines are sold alongside local ciders, ales, crafts and camping essentials.
Whether you come for a Saturday afternoon vineyard tour with tasting, a weekend under canvas with a glass of estate-grown wine in hand, or simply to browse the cellar-style shop in the heart of the Devon countryside, Ten Acres offers a quietly distinctive experience that captures the slow, generous spirit of rural Devon.
The Story Behind Ten Acres Vineyard
Ten Acres is the project of Toby and Esther McKinnel, who moved to the property in 2007. The pair had spent the previous five years living in southern Hungary, in a house on a hill surrounded by its own vineyard, where they absorbed a deep practical knowledge of cool-climate winemaking from local elders. When they returned to the West Country they carried that knowledge with them, and set about planting their own vineyard in Devon.
Choosing vine varieties tough enough to withstand the often bracing weather that sweeps down from nearby Dartmoor, Toby and Esther made their first plantings on the south-facing slope of Winkleigh's wartime airfield in 2008. Today the vineyard has grown to over 2,500 vines, and the pressing, fermenting and bottling of the estate's wines all takes place in a small on-site wine-making cellar. The result is a short, focused range of still and sparkling wines that reflects the chalky, free-draining soils of the old airfield and the maritime edge of the Devon climate.
Ten Acres is part of the wider North Devon UNESCO Biosphere landscape, and the couple's commitment to low-impact, small-scale viticulture is central to everything the vineyard does.
The Wines
Ten Acres produces a tight, terroir-driven range of wines from the estate's 2,500+ vines:
- Still wines - including white and rosé styles made from cool-climate varieties suited to Devon's often challenging ripening conditions.
- Sparkling wines - produced in the traditional method from estate-grown fruit, and a particular speciality of the winery.
- Homemade apple juice - pressed and bottled on site from local apples, an alcohol-free alternative.
All of the wines, along with the apple juice, are available to taste during the Saturday vineyard tours and to purchase from The Devon Wine Shack on the campsite, or via the on-site shop's online wine shop partner at PressFruit.
The Devon Wine Shack - Shop, Reception and Hub
At the heart of Ten Acres sits The Devon Wine Shack, a combined wine shop, campsite reception and tour meeting point. More than just a farm shop, the Wine Shack is built around a passion for local Devon produce and small-batch craftsmanship.
Stock on the shelves includes:
- The vineyard's own still and sparkling wines, and homemade apple juice.
- A range of other wines selected to complement the estate's own production.
- Local ales and ciders.
- Free-range eggs from the vineyard's own hens.
- Locally sourced logs, kindling and charcoal for campfires.
- Camping essentials, plus marshmallows for toasting over the brazier.
- A specialist area of wine equipment - wine coolers, glass and bottle stands, and aerators.
- Devon arts, crafts and produce, including pieces uniquely designed for the shop by local artists.
- A small but charming selection of cacti and succulents, sourced from a local cactus nursery.
The shop also sells fruit presses and cider, wine and juice-making equipment through its partnership with PressFruit, a useful resource for anyone with their own vines or apple trees who would like to start making at home.
Wine Shack Opening Hours
The Devon Wine Shack is open seasonally, from 1 May to 30 September:
- Thursday to Tuesday: 10:00 - 20:00
- Wednesday: 17:00 - 20:00
Vineyard & Winery Tours with Tasting
A vineyard tour at Ten Acres makes an excellent, memorable outing - whether you're on holiday at the campsite, part of a gardening group or WI, organising a celebration or staff outing, or simply looking for a special birthday or anniversary gift.
There are two distinct tour experiences on offer:
The Weekend Tour (Public, Saturdays)
Running every Saturday at 4:30 pm during the camping season, the Weekend Tour is the perfect option for couples, small groups, or anyone staying locally or on the campsite.
- Fully-guided tour of the vineyard and winery.
- Approximately 1.5 hours in total.
- Guided tasting of the estate's still and sparkling wines.
- £14 per person (minimum 2 people, payment required in advance).
- Children and dogs on leads are welcome free of charge.
Spaces can be booked via the online contact form, by email to tenacrescamping@hotmail.co.uk, or by phone on (01837) 83892.
The Group Tour (Private, Bespoke)
For a more flexible, tailor-made experience, the Group Tour is designed to fit around a private group's plans:
- A closed group for family, friends or colleagues.
- Fully-guided tour of the vineyard and winery, lasting approximately 1.5 hours.
- Guided tasting of five wines, including sparkling.
- £14 per person (minimum charge equivalent to 6 people).
- Available any day except Wednesday or Saturday; tours can start between 10:00 and 17:00.
- Must be arranged in advance - contact the team to check availability.
Gift Vouchers for Tours
Ten Acres sells printed and posted gift vouchers for the Weekend Tour, ideal for presents:
- Weekend Tour Voucher - £28 - covers two adults on a Saturday vineyard and winery tour with tasting.
Vouchers can be bought in the on-site Wine Shack or ordered directly from the team.
Camping in Devon on the Vineyard
Ten Acres' peaceful, spacious one-acre campsite sits right next to the vineyard, with room for nine pitches and plenty of space between them. It is a deliberately low-key, back-to-nature site - the kind of place where the Milky Way is easily visible on a clear night because you are so far from the city lights.
What to Expect on Site
- Nine grass pitches, all suitable for both tents and campervans.
- An adjoining field where children (and adults) can run free, walk a dog, or find a quiet spot to relax with a book.
- A small woodland with hammocks for cooling off in the midday sun, plus opportunities for den-building and climbing.
- A shower on site and two compost loos, plus a chemical disposal unit for guests bringing their own facilities.
- A fire pit above the vines and off-ground fires allowed on individual pitches (locally sourced logs, kindling and charcoal can be bought at the Wine Shack).
- A few electrical sockets and a freezer available for campers.
- Dogs are welcome as long as they are kept on a lead - sheep, pigs and hens also live on the farm.
Please note that only tents and campervans are accepted: the half-mile access track is not suitable for motorhomes over 6 metres or towing vehicles.
Camping Prices
- Adults (16+): £12.00 per night
- Children (5 - 16): £6.00 per night
- Under 5s and dogs: free
Friday and Saturday arrivals have a two-night minimum stay. Bookings are taken via the online availability calendar, or by contacting the team directly.
Camping Weekend Gift Voucher
For an original gift, Ten Acres offers a Camping Weekend Voucher at £70, which includes:
- 2 adults
- 2 nights (Friday/Saturday), bringing your own tent
- A guided vineyard and winery tour on Saturday at 4:30 pm with wine tasting
Vouchers can be purchased at the on-site shop or ordered over the phone.
Glamping in Devon: Bell Tent and Gypsy Wagon
For those who want the camping experience without all the kit, Ten Acres offers two beautifully considered glamping options on the vineyard.
The 5m Lotus Bell Tent (Furnished)
A luxuriously spacious canvas 5m Lotus Belle Tent, fully furnished and positioned to capture the best of the vineyard, Devon countryside and Dartmoor views.
- A proper double bed plus two single futon beds - sleeping up to four adults or a family of four.
- Its own covered outdoor kitchen area.
- Heavy-duty groundsheet, plus a decking area.
- A brazier and BBQ for campfires and al fresco dining.
- Everything provided - the full camping experience without any of the faff.
- Sorry, no dogs.
From £75 per night, with a two-night minimum stay.
The Gypsy Wagon (Furnished)
A carefully restored gypsy wagon with a story to tell - it served as one man's home for ten years - and a striking, romantic glamping option overlooking the vines and Dartmoor.
- Double bed plus outdoor field kitchen and shelter.
- Sleeps one or two adults only.
- Includes a vineyard tour with wine tasting on the Saturday of your stay.
- Light the campfire, pop a cork, and watch the sun set as the stars come out.
- Sorry, adults only and no dogs.
£75 per night, with a two-night minimum stay.
Luxury Glamping Weekend Voucher
For a unique and memorable gift, the Luxury Glamping Weekend Voucher - £185 includes:
- 2 adults
- 2 nights (Friday/Saturday) in the fully furnished 5m Lotus Belle Tent
- A vineyard tour and wine tasting on the Saturday
Vouchers can be bought at the on-site Wine Shack or via the online wine shop.
The Area: Winkleigh and North Devon
Ten Acres sits in an exceptionally unspoilt part of Devon, close to the small, thatched village of Winkleigh. The village still has a central square, two pubs, and an almost self-sufficient range of services - thanks in part to its old WWII airfield heritage, which has given it space for all kinds of small industry and craft.
Local highlights within and around Winkleigh include:
- Winkleigh Pine - recycled-timber furniture makers.
- Winkleigh Cider - one of the West Country's best producers.
- The village's monthly farmers' market on the first Saturday of every month in the village hall.
- A butcher's, well-stocked convenience store, post office, vet, farm shop/café, doctor's surgery, hardware store, builder's yard, two garages and even a cactus shop.
Winkleigh is a particularly good place for wildlife: goshawks, golden plover, lapwing, skylarks, flocks of starlings, finches, heron, barn owls and summer swallows can all be seen in the surrounding farmland.
Days Out Within Easy Reach
From Ten Acres you can reach a remarkable spread of Devon and Cornwall attractions:
- The Tarka Trail - 32 miles of traffic-free path following the journey of Tarka the Otter, ideal for cycling or walking.
- RHS Rosemoor - a stunning garden in the Torridge Valley.
- Eggesford Forest - home to the very first trees planted by the Forestry Commission in 1919.
- Castle Hill Gardens - 50 acres of historic parkland on the southern edge of Exmoor.
- Dartmoor National Park - wild, open moorlands and deep river valleys.
- Marwood Hill Gardens - a magical 20-acre private garden with three lakes.
- Exmoor National Park - moorland, valleys and farmland shaped over thousands of years.
- The Two Moors Way - a long-distance path linking Dartmoor and Exmoor.
- North Cornwall and North Devon beaches - Saunton Sands, Westward Ho!, Instow and Bude are all within reach.
- Lydford Gorge - the deepest gorge in the South West.
- National Trust properties - Killerton House, Knightshayes, Castle Drogo, Cotehele and Arlington Court.
- Clovelly - a privately-owned, unique working fishing village on a 400-foot cliff.
- Exeter Cathedral, the Valley of the Rocks, Dartington Crystal, the Underground Passages at Exeter, and watersports across Devon's rivers, coasts and surf beaches.
How to Find Ten Acres
Ten Acres is situated down a quiet half-mile track well away from traffic.
By Car
From the A3124, turn towards Winkleigh village at the crossroads next to Westridge Vets. Indicate right immediately, then turn at the sign to Ten Acres Vineyard. Continue along the track for half a mile. After the vineyard on your right, turn right and you have arrived. For sat-nav, use EX19 8EY.
By Train
The nearest train station is Eggesford, around five miles away. From the station it is a scenic ride or walk along country lanes to Winkleigh - there is no bus service from Eggesford to the village.
By Bus
There are regular buses from Exeter and Bideford to Winkleigh. The nearest stop is a request stop near Winkleigh called Westridge Vets or The Four Seasons. From there it is half a mile on foot to Ten Acres - follow the driving directions above.
Plan Your Visit
Contact Details
- Phone: 01837 83892
- Mobile: 07802 778886
- Email: tenacrescamping@hotmail.co.uk
- Address: Ten Acres, Winkleigh, Devon EX19 8EY
You can also reach the team via the online contact form.
Follow Ten Acres
Whether you come for the wine, the stars, the rolling Devon countryside, or simply to slow down for a weekend, Ten Acres offers an unusually complete Devon experience in a single, peaceful spot - a working vineyard, a welcoming campsite, a glamping retreat and a one-of-a-kind wine shop, all in the shadow of Dartmoor.