Sandridge Barton Wines

A working vineyard just outside Paignton, Sandridge Barton Wines is one of Devon's more unexpected finds - the sort of place you stumble upon while cycling the coastal paths and wonder why you haven't heard more about it. The vineyard sprawls across decent acreage with vines that actually produce wine worth drinking, not the tourist-trap stuff you sometimes get in England. You can walk between the rows, see how they're growing the grapes, and if you time it right, catch them during harvest or bottling.

This is proper wine country, albeit on a smaller scale than what you'd find abroad. The owners know their stuff and aren't interested in pretending Devon's climate produces Bordeaux-level quality - they work with what the land gives them. The tasting room is unfussy, the staff chatty rather than stuffy. Most visitors spend two to three hours here: a bit of wandering, a glass or two, perhaps picking up a bottle or three for the caravan.

It suits wine enthusiasts far more than families with restless kids, though older teenagers might enjoy the agricultural side of things. If you're staying at Whitehill Country Park or Ramslade just down the road, it's genuinely worth the short drive. Paignton's within easy reach for supplies, and the vineyard works nicely as a mid-week outing when the beaches get rammed. Ring ahead for opening times and whether booking's needed - details are sparse online, which honestly feels rather fitting for somewhere this low-key.