Winkleigh: History, Walks and Local Experiences

Winkleigh combines medieval history, traditional village architecture and a variety of activities on the Mid Devon plateau. The village lies on the watershed between the Taw and Torridge and on higher points of the plateau, around 550 feet above sea level. For your travel planning, this creates an interesting mix of exploring the village, walking, regional food culture and special activities for families.

History around the Village Square

The Village Square is a good starting point for exploring. A walk in Winkleigh begins at the Village Pump, and the buildings around Winkleigh Square are predominantly made of traditional stone, earth or cob, or plaster; some are made of brick and granite. This makes the development of the village visible not only in historical accounts but also in its built environment.

Winkleigh’s history dates back to the Middle Ages. A medieval borough developed between two fortified manors at opposite ends of the village. A prominent landscape feature in the village is Croft Castle, a medieval ringwork on a ridge overlooking the Bullow Brook valley to the south. Despite some damage, the site preserves comparatively good archaeological information about Norman military activity in this part of Devon.

The Church of All Saints is also noteworthy for visitors interested in cultural history. The Grade I listed parish church has structural elements dating from the early 14th century, was remodelled in the 15th century and extended in the 17th and 19th centuries. Extensive restorations took place in 1872–1873 and 1902. The Winkleigh Community Centre complements this historic village setting with a Grade II listed building in the Victorian Gothic style that retains many of its original features.

Walks with different timeframes

Anyone wanting to explore Winkleigh and its surroundings on foot can choose from several described routes. The Broadwoodkelly Walk begins at the Village Square and takes approximately 2 hours. The starting points listed for the Hollocombe Walk are the A3124 north of Winkleigh or the village of Hollocombe; you should allow approximately 1½ hours for the route. The Lymington Arms Walk leads from Eggesford Road in Winkleigh or from the Lymington Arms and takes approximately 2½ hours.

The different time estimates help you organise your day according to your interests without having to fit all activities into a single outing. A shorter circuit can be planned differently from the longer Lymington Arms Walk. If you are travelling with several generations or children, you can take the chosen route and its respective starting point into account when preparing for your trip.

Cider, the market and family experiences

Winkleigh also has a strong local food and events culture. Factory tours take place at Sam’s Cider every Friday at 11 a.m. They cover the company’s history and the production of cider from start to finish, comparing traditional methods with modern 21st-century processes. Cider production began in 1916 at Western Barn in Winkleigh with Sam Inch.

A market takes place at Winkleigh Village Hall on the first Saturday of every month. The Winkleigh Fair includes the blessing of the well, the crowning of the Winkleigh Fair King and Winkleigh Fair Queen, and a ball-rolling competition. The village festival is one of Devon’s oldest surviving community traditions and originally received a royal charter in 1262.

For families, Scribbleton offers visits with eleven role-play sets. It also has a central baby area with interactive, age-appropriate activities and a multisensory room that can be used free of charge during the visit. This makes it possible to combine a historical village tour with an experience of a very different nature.

Regional cuisine and the right accommodation

There are various local places to visit for a break. Fiona’s Kitchen & Farm Shop in Winkleigh serves homemade food to eat in or take away and sells traditional beef from 100 % pasture-fed cattle. The Tallet Cafe offers a wide selection of tea and coffee as well as breakfast, lunch and cakes.

When choosing a holiday apartment or holiday house in Winkleigh, you can therefore first consider which daily rhythm suits your travel group: local history and architecture, walking routes with clear timeframes, local events, cider and regional cuisine, or family activities.

More destinations for your planning

If you would like to compare other places for your travel planning, here is a compact selection: Hartland, Meavy, Chittlehamholt, Torquay, Otterton, Torrington, Exbourne and Yealmpton.

For the overarching travel overview: Devon.