When can I check in and check out of The Cider Vat?

Camping and touring Arrive: 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. Depart by: Anytime Read more

The Cider Vat

The best field for a easy walk around the farm

Peaceful pitches in a Devon cider orchard near Exbourne
A 15-minute drive to Okehampton and Dartmoor National Park
Cider tours and sampling on site, plus well-stocked farm shop

There are 14,000 cider apple trees at Solland Farm – so it’s perhaps no surprise that the folk that run the place have opted to call their campsite The Cider Vat… This lovely slice of Devon countryside (between Exbourne and Sampford Courtenay) has been owned by the McIlwraith family for 22 years – over that time they’ve tended the land well to make sure it stays a welcoming place for wildlife. As such, guests are asked to respect the natural environment and pick pitches that won’t harm any of the wildflowers and plants that were here first. What you’ll spot around the site depends on the season but there’s always something to see as you wander through the woods of the old quarry or around the water meadows. The dawn chorus is usually a feature throughout the season, but the flowers in bloom will range from primroses and bluebells to yellow flag irises depending on the month. The cider orchards are lovely places to hang out at any time of year (although for top bees-and-blossom action aim for May or early June…). And that’s good news for guests here, because pitches are right there in the orchard clearings – and you can book a cider tour/sampling session to find out a bit more about your scented surroundings too. To preserve the natural vibe, this is a wild camping site with just basic necessities: guests have access to a spring water tap, portable toilets and a dishwasher. You’re welcome to light campfires or barbecues too; a farm shop on site has all sorts of meat, veg, bread and other foodie bits – plus an excellent range of local drinks, of course…

Site type

Languages spoken

English

Nearby sites that are bookable on Pitchup.com

Unfortunately, we have no nearby bookable sites.

Features

Portable toilet

Pop-up campground

Dogs allowed

Campfires allowed

Leisure on site

Bar or club house Cycle hire Evening entertainment Fishing Fitness centre Games room Indoor swimming pool Kids' club On-site restaurant/cafe Outdoor swimming pool Play area TV room Take away Tennis Watersports

Amenities on site

Bath available Car parking by pitch/unit Composting toilet Dog park Drying room Food shop Free wifi Ice pack freezing Internet access Launderette Local produce Parent & baby washroom Pick-up from public transport Portable toilet Pub toilets Public telephone Shower available Toilet block Washing-up area Wifi

Groups welcome

Family friendly Motorcycle friendly Rallies welcome Single-sex groups welcome Student groups welcome

Rules

Barbecue provided Barbecues allowed Campfires allowed Commercial vehicles allowed Dogs allowed Dogs allowed all year

Themes

Budget/backpacker Forest Gastronomic delight Peaceful Remote location Spectacular scenery Walkers' paradise Wild camping Wildlife haven

Utilities

Charging facilities Chemical disposal Electric car charging point(s) Gas cylinders available Recycling available Renewable energy

Nearby amenities

Bar nearby Dog walk nearby Nearby farmers' market Public transport nearby Shop nearby

Type

Farm Pop-up campground Small (11-25 pitches)

Accessibility

Disabled facilities

Nearby leisure

Climbing nearby Cycle hire nearby Cycling nearby Fishing nearby Golf nearby Horse riding nearby Indoor pool nearby Outdoor pool nearby Restaurant nearby Tennis nearby

Location

The Cider Vat

Solland Farm

Sampford Courtenay

Devon

England

EX20 3QT

Directions

Timezone

Europe/London GMT (GMT+00:00)

GPS

50.80027°N
-3.96869°W

Nearest transport

Coach

7.3 km Thomas Cook

25.9 km The Square

26 km The Square

Rail

3.6 km Sampford Courtenay Rail Station

7.8 km Okehampton Rail Station

11.8 km Eggesford Rail Station

Ferry

29.4 km Bideford Ferry Landing

31.7 km Instow Ferry Landing

32.2 km Appledore Ferry Landing

Airport

39.7 km Exeter International Airport

Please note: All distances on this page are calculated "as the crow flies" - please check actual distance depending on your mode of travel using the Get directions button above.

Local attractions

Keen to see more of that Devon countryside? You’ll need at least one day in the Dartmoor National Park (15 minutes’ drive), hiking or biking your way along lanes and pathways or taking a more relaxed outing on the Dartmoor Railway. For a different mix of activities, roam around Roadford Lake (half an hour), which has fishing, climbing, sailing and kayaking as well as trails for walks and bike rides. Adventure Clydesdale (45 minutes) is a good place to head for horse riding outings, and there are plenty of places to find board hire and surf lessons in Bude (40 minutes). Something a little less active in mind? Perhaps a wander around Castle Drogo or RHS Rosemoor (both 25 minutes) would fit the bill – or you could amble around Okehampton (15 minutes), which has a castle and park as well as a pool that’s a handy option for families on damp days.

Water quality at nearby bathing waters

Name	Distance	Type	2020	2019	2018	2017
Westward Ho!	32.9 km	Sea	N/A	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent
Saunton Sands	39.4 km	Sea	N/A	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent
Summerleaze	41.1 km	Sea	N/A	Excellent	Good	Good
Crooklets	41.3 km	Sea	N/A	Excellent	Good	Good
Croyde Bay	41.4 km	Sea	N/A	Good	Excellent	Good

Data source: European Environment Agency

Must see

Castle Drogo 16 km

RHS Garden Rosemoor 19.8 km

Exeter Cathedral - Church of Saint Peter 32 km

The National Trust Killerton House & Gardens 35.9 km

Buckfast Abbey 36.8 km

National Trust

Finch Foundry 8.4 km

Castle Drogo 16 km

Lydford Gorge 20.1 km

The Church House 27.3 km

Lawrence House 33.1 km

Cycle routes

Find local routes on the National Cycle Network - over 12,000 miles of cycling routes.

Other

WOOD HOUSE 7.4 km

SIMMONS PARK 7.6 km

Meldon Reservoir - Brat Tor - Meldon Reservoir 11.4 km

Eggesford Station - Eggesford Barton - Nethercott - Eggesford Station 11.8 km

Chagford - Castle Drogo - Fingle Bridge 16.4 km

Please note: All distances on this page are calculated "as the crow flies" - please check actual distance depending on your mode of travel using the Get directions button above.

Payment terms

Offers

Conditions apply - see pitch type section for details

Reviews

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Frequently asked questions

Does The Cider Vat have a swimming pool? No View all features
Is The Cider Vat dog friendly? Yes View all features
What attractions are near The Cider Vat? Keen to see more of that Devon countryside? You’ll need at least one day in the Dartmoor National Park (15 minutes’ drive), hiking or biking your way along lanes and pathways or … Read more
When can I check in and check out of The Cider Vat?

Camping and touring

Arrive: 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Depart by: Anytime

Read more