Cabins near UK vineyards for wine tasting

There’s staying near a vineyard and then there’s a custom-made cabin that practically nestles among the vines. You’ll find the latter at The Grape Escape at Road Green Vineyard in Gloucestershire, a luxurious little pad with a rainfall wet room, pizza oven and a wood-fired hot tub outside. Rows of vines stretch out in front of the cabin and a bottle of — exceptionally local — dry white wine greets you on arrival, making it very easy to sample the end result. 

They also produce a white sparkling and an English rosé from the four different grape varieties cultivated on site and the hosts offer wine tastings. Presiding over the undulating landscape is Tyndale Monument which is worth walking up to for spectacular views across to Wales. The Cotswold Way is on the doorstep and Westonbirt Arboretum is a short drive away and home to 2,500 different species from the far corners of the globe.

A glass of wine in the tub has never looked, or felt, better than at Vilberie in Somerset. In what can only be described as a shine to relaxation, it has a separate circular bathroom with a huge stone tub in the centre, a rainfall shower above and a wall-mounted TV for movie nights. The bath easily fits two, so stock up on award-winning English fizz at Fenny Castle Vineyard and settle in for a long, indulgent soak. 

The vineyard is a 15-minute stroll away and does cellar door sales and tours where you can learn about the winemaking process and take in the views across the levels to Glastonbury Tor. With so many little luxuries at the cabin, you’ll be eager to hurry back to fire up the Weber BBQ and treat yourself to another Nespresso from the machine. There are Dutch vintage bikes provided for a cycle along the country lanes, or you can walk in the glorious Mendip Hills and see how long it takes you to spot the welcoming glow of a local pub.

Total tranquillity is the name of the game at Vineyard Cabin Retreat on the north-east coast of Norfolk. There’s a wood burning stove, a king size bed and a huge Chesterfield sofa to slump on for an afternoon doze or to catch up on your book. Outside, you’re sharing the space with the local wildlife, including deer, hare and Gerald the owl, along with rows of flourishing grapes on the farm’s very own established vineyard. 

Of course, these are best appreciated from the vantage point of the wood-fired hot tub on the deck, ideally at sunset as the fairy lights flicker softly into life. The six-acre farm sits within miles of green fields and hedgerows just a short distance from the sandy beach at Sea Palling and close to the Norfolk Broads National Park. For a delicious meal, head to The Ingham Swan, a Michelin-recommended restaurant in a relaxed, stylish setting.

There’s an abundance of readily available alcohol at Goldings Cabin in Monmouthshire, from the on-site artisan brewery to Parva Vineyard, just down the road at Tintern. The vineyard produces award-winning still and sparkling Welsh wines and meads, and is open year-round for visits and tours. The owners think Parva is almost certainly the site of Tintern Abbey’s vineyards, and once may even have been home to Roman vines. 

Goldings Cabin is the perfect base to absorb all this history (and sparkling brut) with a hot tub, firepit and all the essentials required for a peaceful, cosy stay. The splendid Abbey ruins are round the corner, there’s kayaking on the Wye and bikes to hire on site for exploring the hill trails. Clearwell Caves are worth a visit to see 4,500 years of mining history in an incredible cave system that includes an underground theatre and skeleton pool.

Sussex is the beating heart of the booming English wine scene and produces vintages to rival the finest Champagnes. Try some award-winning English sparkling for yourself with a stay at Meadow Cabin, a 10-minute drive from the beautiful Wiston Estate Winery in acres of rolling chalk downland. There’s a restaurant on site and they offer a wide range of different experiences including an off-road bike tour and lunch, and a sundowner safari and tasting. 

Stock up at the shop before you leave and clink back to your luxurious cabin at Beneath the Branches. The interior is gorgeous but the deck feels particularly opulent with its outdoor tub, wood burner and suspended swing seat. It's the perfect spot to whip up a mouthwatering feast on the BBQ, wash down with a glass of local wine. When it's time to retreat inside, the space feels more akin to a treehouse than a cabin with leafy views through every window.

You’ll be on a major high — that isn’t all thanks to the wine —  at The Nest, a multi-storey tree cabin with staggering views that stretch all the way to Exmoor. With a hot tub,fire pit and on-site yoga, it’s tempting to stay put but it would be a shame to miss hikes in the national park, glorious Devon beaches and pub dinners in nearby Brampton.  At the end of each day, the rocking chairs on the deck are just waiting for you to flop into with a bottle of English sparkling to watch the sunset over the rolling hills.  Pick up said bottle at Quoit-at-Cross vineyard, a historic family-run site 30 minutes walk away in the upland hills, renowned for its rosé, Chardonnay and Classic Cuvee fizz. They offer a 90 minute tour and tasting twice a week between May and October, as well as spoon carving workshops with a local craftsman.