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Devon’s fantastic beasts and where to find them

27th May 2022

Categories: Visitor News

Visiting Devon and fancy making some new friends? Then you need to head to one of the region’s many animal parks and conservation areas, where you can find everything from otters, mini pigs and more exotic creatures like lions and bears. There is an abundance of cute animals all over the county, so if you’re up for learning more about the natural world and making some furry friends, here are the best places to go.

We have to start with one of the most famous animal attractions in the region, Paignton Zoo. Located within the English Riviera, Paignton Zoo works with a number of projects to conserve wildlife and protect rare and endangered animals, which makes it one of the best places to meet these incredible creatures. Featuring specially designed habitats and a host of daily talks, you can discover new things about all your favourite animals right here and with over 2,000 species living there, you can easily fill a whole day here.

Alternatively, in Barnstaple at the other end of Devon you’ll find Exmoor Zoo, which is often described as one of the west country’s hidden gems and is situated on the edge of the Exmoor National Park, which itself is home to a variety of fascinating species, including a herd of feral goats and those famous Exmoor ponies. At Exmoor Zoo, you can find a host of rare and unusual animals that are seldom found at similar sites, all living alongside more familiar favourites. There are interactive and encounter sessions running all day, allowing you to truly get up close and personal with some of the cutest creatures you can think of, including being able to feed the wallaby and the alpacas, as well as a chance to learn more about other exotic species. This isn’t the only zoo in the region located on one of the county’s moors, Dartmoor Zoological Park can be found on the borders of the Dartmoor National Park and is home to the biggest variety of big cats in the South West of England. If this zoo looks familiar to you, it is because it is the same one featured in the memoir and its film adaptation, We Bought a Zoo.

It isn’t just animals from around the world you can meet while visiting Devon. There are several attractions offering play alongside some incredible wildlife from much closer to home, like Wildwood Escot where you can find everything from mazes, drop slides, zip lines and even an authentic Saxon Village alongside the animals. Once you’ve exhausted all the adventure activities, you can join in with the regular talks and exhibitions surrounding the animals, where you can learn more about their natural habitats and even join in with feeding times. The park is home to a selection of adorable creatures, including rare red squirrels, wolves, lynx and the adopted bears, Mish and Lucy.

Image: World of Country Life

Similarly, near Exmouth is World of Country Life where you can learn more about the creatures you see every day, like pygmy goats, lamb and deer and have the chance to get up close by bottle or hand feeding them. With the back drop of the Jurassic Coast, this is a popular spot with families. Not only do you have the animals to meet, but it is easily accessible and really does have something for everyone with its eclectic mix of museums, play areas and entertainment.

If your group can’t choose between a day at the theme park or a day at the zoo, make sure to check out Woodlands Family Theme Park. With the largest watercoasters in Devon and the biggest indoor play area in the South West, you can get the adrenaline pumping before meeting a host of adorable animals in the wildlife section. There are even a couple of extinct ones to seek out too. If you can’t get enough of learning about how the animals we see at zoos today evolved from their prehistoric counterparts, make sure to add a trip to Combe Martin Wildlife and Dinosaur Park to your itinerary. At this much loved park you can see genuine rare dinosaur eggs as well as meet their resident animatronic dinosaurs. It isn’t all extinct animals though, you’ll also get to meet wolves, sea lions, penguins, meerkats and more.

Image: Quince Honey Farm

While you’re in North Devon, why not learn more about one of the most important creatures to inhabit the earth: bees. At Quince Honey Farm, they are constantly refining their beekeeping techniques and have over 1,500 hives and a whole day’s worth of bee related activities. Not only do you get to learn more about the bees themselves, but you can also learn about how honey is produced, take part in a honey tasting session and make your own beeswax candles. It isn’t all about bees in Devon either, there are other insects that we want to conserve and protect, like butterflies, which you can find alongside some of the cutest otters in the world at Otters and Butterflies, a sanctuary in Buckfastleigh. Here you’ll find a large tropical garden that provides everything the butterflies need and visitors are welcome to walk among them, giving you a chance to experience what life in the rainforest is like. Elsewhere is the otter sanctuary. Currently, there are three species of otter that call it home and you can learn about their similarities and differences, as well as join in with feeding time at various points during the day.

As you might expect from a county with such a large farming community, we have a lot of farm attractions, featuring animals you will be familiar with. These sites are great for learning more about our native species and of course, spectating on some of the most entertaining races you can imagine! At the Big Sheep near Bidesford, the world-famous sheep racing is one of the many activities you can enjoy. Other than meeting the animals, you’ll also get to ride the South West’s largest family roller coaster and a host of entertaining family-friendly shows. If you’re more into pigs than sheep, then you are in luck, in South Devon is Pennywell Farm, home to their famous miniature pigs who also like to race each other! Get acquainted with the pigs in their Pet Cuddle area, walk the goats, hand-feed the deer or find out more about farm activities by collecting eggs or riding the tractor. Pennywell Farm hosts a regular programme of events and activities, so no matter when you visit, there is always something fun to do. It isn’t just miniature pigs you can meet in Devon, there are also miniature ponies! Make friends with the cutest horses and ponies at the Miniature Pony Centre which is open from Spring to Autumn every year and is located on the outskirts of Dartmoor – this is another place where you can enjoy a hands-on experience or even host your birthday party there with one of their pony parties!

Image: Miniature Pony Centre.

If your interest lies more in marine life than those on land, head to the National Marine Aquarium in Plymouth. As the UK’s largest aquarium, a visit here will take you on a journey across the oceans, with aquatic life from Plymouth’s own shores all the way to Australia. As well as getting to meet a host of fascinating animals from sharks and stingrays to turtles, a visit to the NMA also helps the environment as their proceeds go towards the Ocean Conservation Trust which aims to help us all become more connected to the oceans.

Find more animal attractions here.