A small place, but so worth a visit. Located near an old steam railway, this is a little gem. Hundreds of butterflies to look at (presumably only at certain times of the year?) and the otters are so comical. Lots and lots of activity in the otter enclosures and really useful viewing platforms to get the best look at them. You can even watch them swim underwater. There was great commentary for the otters which was very interesting. Excellent value for money and very educational for kids. I'd happily visit again.

Such a beautiful place, doing amazing work. The otters are in wonderful surroundings, and are clearly very well looked after. We watched a feeding time, and heard lots of fascinating information about the otters, their habitat, and the work of reintroducing them back into the wild. The butterfly farm is beautiful, with amazing insects and animals to observe. There is also a café by the steam railway station, which does a good selection of food and drinks. The staff at the Otter Sanctuary were very friendly, and happy to answer questions. Suitable for all ages.

Buckfastleigh Otter sanctuary and Butterfly park is a local tourist attraction well worth a visit and not far off the main A38 Devon Expressway. Prices here are £11 per adult and £8 per child and last all day and you may come and go as you please First point of note is that it's very hot inside so I would strip off before entering or you will regret it, but you certainly will not regret coming. Information boards are dotted around the place giving you identification of the moths and butterflies inside, many of which can be seen flying around your head and if you're lucky landing upon you. There is also a chrysalis nursery on show for all to see and I was lucky enough to watch a butterfly emerge for the first time and stretch its newly born wings. Nature at its most beautiful The otter sanctuary part of this establishment was pretty cool as well as you are able to get quite close to the otters. I arrived just before feeding time and boy did they know or taking their positions by the holes in the fences quietly waiting for food. There are dray viewing points and also underwater viewing points to see the otters in their almost natural habitats. In all Truth I feel that the cost of this place is slightly too much as they're really isn't much to see but considering that it goes into the running of this building to ensure that these animals are kept safe I feel it is worth it nonetheless. On entrance and exit you are welcome to the gift shop where you can buy all sorts of goodies to remember your day Second point of note is that the toilets aren't actually anywhere near the butterfly farm they are on the other side of Buck vastly station and it's a bit of a tromp especially if you have kids in tow. Overall a wonderful experience and one I would recommend trying out

This was a spur or the moment visit but well worth it. The butterfly’s are in a large enclosure that you can walk around and you will also so some other friends such as fish and turtles. The otters were outside and you could see lots of breeds, each having their own enclosure. We luckily made it for the 4pm feed and it was cool watching the otters have their dinner. With reasonable prices to get in, you will have a great day out here.

Went for an otter experience for my friend's 21st birthday and it turned out being the best day! Very nice staff and adorable otters, the rain didn't spoil any of it! We even had the chance to have a close look of the babies! Thank you for having us, we will come back to see the butterflies!

Excellent attraction to visit. Staff who run it are very knowledgeable about all of the different species of otters that are in the sanctuary. Very informative talks provided at each of the habitats at feeding times. The indoor butterfly greenhouse is also lovely. Very pleasant to walk around with all of the butterflies fluttering around your head.

What a lovely day out. My husband and I visited whilst on holiday and were more than impressed with the variety of butterflies at different life stages. Seeing the otters during feed was amazing and they were comical. Entry is not overpriced either. A really enjoyable few hours

We loved it here! Spent about an hour at the sanctuary, mostly during otter feeding time which was fantastic - definitely plan your day around the feeding time. The staff member was super knowledgeable and told us about the otter species and also the otters’ individual personalities. Very much recommend for a short trip out if you’re in the area.

An amazing experience and definitely worth the detour on our way home! We got to watch the otters being fed which was so fun and a great way to see all the otters. The butterflies were so beautiful and it was nice to see the turtles chilling in the water too. I have recommended this to friends and family and I’m definitely considering going back and feeding the otters

Great shared experience with the grandkids. So many different butterflies. A bit hard to catch with camera, but with patience you will succeed. Very tropical (hot) inside. The otters were also a great learning opportunity. Recommend!

AMAZING! We loved it here so much, the otters are the cutest things in the whole world and the butterfly room was just beautiful, with lots of love put into the planting and care of the plants. The staff were lovely and we got to learn a lot about how they care for the otters, about the individual otters and their personalities, what they eat etc. and we loved every minute of it!

Myself and my partner were fortunate enough to take part in an Otter Experience on Friday. We were accompanied by the wonderful and VERY knowledgeable Aimee, who made an already incredible experience just that bit more fantastic! All of the staff there are so helpful and welcoming. The experience itself was unforgettable and totally unique to this location. Being inside the enclosure, hand feeding the otters was amazing! If you love otters as much as my other half, or even just find them hella cute, I would absolutely recommend making a trip to Buckfast Butterflies & Otters. Thank you so much for the best experience ever! Worth every penny and so much more!

We got to go in to see the butterflies and otters as we had a ticket that included it with our train ride. The area where the butterflies were was just being filled with new plants which was a sea of gorgeous colour. Not many butterflies to see at the moment but the ones we did see were amazing. Some were hidden so you had to look carefully, some were happy to fly around you to have a good look. The otters were lovely. Active and cheeky. Lovely to go and visit for a short while. Love it here X thank you

I love otters so I was very excited to go here, the butterfly house is pretty and has lots of turtles, but unfortunately everywhere has seen its best days. Lots of it including the otter enclosures, could do with a bit of a revamp. Their is also not that many, its only a small place, we got lucky and a few of the otters were out playing, but if they hadn't been their isn't much else to see/do, although once you have paid you are free to come and go throughout the day which is good as their are other things to do in the area and plenty of parking.

Took myself on a little trip to see the Butterflies & Otters today & ended up having so much fun! It was such a wonderful day out. the feeding times are 11:30, 2:00 & 4:00. Sophie hosted the feed I saw & was so knowledgeable on all the otters & was really interactive with everyone there! Thank you for a great day 🦦

Such a sweet place for a day out. A greenhouse filled with loads of butterflies and 5 enclosures with otters. Feeding time is 11.30, 2 and 4. They offer feeding experiences too. Very knowledgeable staff give a talk about the otters as they are being fed. There is a little shop with some very lovely otters and butterfly inspired items. It is just around the corner from the steam train station too so you have multiple attractions in one area. By the steam room is a cafe that does snacks and full meals. Parking is free and there are plenty of spaces.

It's a great place for a small visit. Otters are very entertaining, and watching butterflies is a fun thing to do. There is a place to have some drinks,cake and ice cream. I definitely recommend this place

Thoroughly enjoyed our visit here. Our son was excited to see the otters, and whilst they were fun to watch I must say that it is the butterfly farm that is the star here. A wall of humid air hits you as you walk inside the large greenhouse and once you de-mist your glasses you find yourself surrounded by butterflies of sizes and colours you didn’t know existed. The circular path and the two bridges are wheelchair accessible and afford plenty of nooks and crannies to spot the residents. I genuinely could have stayed there all afternoon. As delightful as our party found this attraction it should be mentioned that Buckfast is an objectively small zoo; children may find their attention drifting after 30 minutes or so.

Great place to visit, a little pricy but under 3's go free so good for kids! The butterflies are beautiful and the otters are great fun to watch. Only downside is the particularly aggressive selling tactics of a charity hawker made it a little uncomfortable as we couldn't easily escape conversation and there was no way to avoid them. Felt a little weird to pay £40 for tickets and then be guilted into buying a membership to Wildlife Trust. (they're not associated with the sanctuary (I think) so I can't blame them, but it's just off that they're there in the first place)

My partner and I booked the experience and it certainly did not dissapoint. We had the lovely Sophie as our keeper for the day and she was very knowledgeable about the otters and explained the differences between the different species they had at the sanctuary. She also had some lovely stories about each otter and the naughty things they get up too. We were able to sit in with the small family of otters and hand feed them. We were also able to hold hands with the larger family of otters through a window in the enclosure. Honestly made my year. If you have a love of otters, or nature in general, I would highly recommend paying them a visit. The experience was arranged around the otters feeding times and it was totally up to them if they interacted with us or not. I really did feel the otters needs were put before ours (as they should be). Thank you Sophie and team for a wonderful experience I'll never forget.

The best animal’s experience we ever had! We absolutely loved it, the staff are amazing , they otters are so beautiful and friendly, we fed them as well with a member of the staff showing us how to do and explain everything about this gorgeous creatures! Thank you for this incredibile experience, highly recommended to anyone who wants to have a special day with animals. We will come back soon ! Alessandra and Jonathan

Lovely otters, looked after really well. Some good talks about them as well. They even offer a feeding experience which must be fun! Poor butterflies, although spectacularly colourful, got overlooked by most people. Not their fault, they're just not as cute as otters! Despite being quite a small space, there is plenty of room for all the different kind of otters

We've passed by on many an occasion on route to Plymouth, but my diary has never yet yielded the time to visit Buckfast Abbey until today. We arrived about 10 minutes before the gardens and shop opened and found the disabled parking easily accessible right outside the main gate. We made our way in, there was no charge for entry unlike some ecclesiastical establishments, there is a suggested donation minimum of £2 instead. Once inside the gatehouse, you are greeted by the fantastic vista of the wide-open green spaces and the domineering presence of the church. We made our way down the gentle slope towards what I called the lavender garden as it was full of English and ornamental lavender plants, where we stopped to take a few images of the church before many people could photobomb themselves in (unknowingly). Inside the church was just amazing, we were the only people in there and we were able to walk around in total silence and take our time to explore. We both marvelled at the huge organ at the rear of the church, with what looked like trumpets pointing out. Don't forget to look up.... or you'll miss the totally awesome gold mural/painting in the middle of the church (I've included an image here). Facilities wise, the restaurant was busy changing over from breakfast to lunch menu when we arrived, there were some pastry products available and a nice selection of sandwiches and rolls. The toilets were lovely and clean, the disabled facilities were easy to access and immaculate, I did like the automatic courtesy air spray as I entered, nice touch. On the way out we had to pass the shop, so it would be rude not to pop in and check out the wares, which I must say were very reasonable. We bought some pewter stag head pins for only £32.99. If you enjoy the peace and quiet and nothing but the sound of songbirds, then this is definitely the place for you to visit. We really enjoyed our morning visit and hope to return when my diary allows.

Absolutely stunning Abbey It's free to go around Has an amazing stained glass window. Huge ... Gift shop And a pizza eatery A water wheel .. DOG FRIENDLY in the grounds only ...

Really enjoyed stopping in on the grounds of the Abbey. Staff in and around the building were so pleasant and helpful. Grounds were in perfect condition and lots of little bits to explore. Plenty in the gift shop for those looking to pick up a memento. Have to say the new. Pizzeria at the mill looked nice but we never went in, in the end.

What an unexpected treasure this place is. It brings calmness to all that are there, place is full of surprises from free entry and free car parking to a beautiful environment that actually encourages you to walk on the grass. Meticulously maintained, we went on a wet day and still enjoyed wandering around. Garden shop with incredible plants, cafe with stunning food. All staff were lovely, knowledgeable and nothing was too much. Highly recommend.

This was suggested by my sister-in-law as a place to meet up and really enjoyed our visit. Pleasant walk around the gardens before we entered the church. We were delighted to find that a choir was practicing so lovely to have them in the background whilst we walked around. No charge but donations appreciated. There was a separate exhibition for which there was a small charge but we didn't have time to visit. Couple of good shops on site, and as the Abbey is Catholic, one of the shops stocked appropriate books, rosary beads etc. Also a restaurant on site.

Buckfast Abbey is a beautiful location, full of history. The beautiful award-winning gardens are complementing the outstanding Abbey. The ice creams are excellent and there is a café and shop. It is easy to get to with good parking. This is a location I will happily visit again and again.

A quiet place of reflection. The place is beautiful and serene, it is not an "in your face" education, seeing the life of the monks in a literal world through the display as you enter is informative. The story of the Abbey and how it was rebuilt by monks who were not skilled in masonry work is remarkable. It costs nothing (apart from what you spend in the shops - which cannot be helped) to go but gives you an appreciation of how life was in the past through to today. Thank you.

Was taken here has one of our in included trips on our coach holiday. Beautiful place to visit, inside the Abbey is really serene, walk around and wonder at the architecture, sit and contemplate in the quiet. It really is a wonderful place. After admiring the inside, take a stroll around the grounds and then pop into the tea room for refreshments.

Such a Beautiful place. So much to see around the whole site. Free parking. Fantastic food in the Grange restaurant. There is a Hotel next to the Abbey, called the Northgate Hotel. Very clean. Excellent Breakfast and very friendly Staff. Nothing is to much trouble.

Beautiful Abbey, definitely worth a visit. When we came there was a wedding going on which looked beautiful. The cafe and little shops are nice as well and there is plenty of parking which is great.

Wonderful historic Abbey. Site dates from 1018. Current Abbey constructed between 1906 and 1932. Bright and warm interior. Spectacular stained glass i. 1960s Chapel. Free to visit. Home to a working, live-in community of Monks who lead daily acts of worship. Extensive grounds and gardens to walk around; superb Cafe/ restaurant. Historic Methodist Chapel within grounds.

Lovely place to visit, it's like a gift to the people and visitors to Devon. Beautiful gardens, lovely Abbey, medieval hall. Totally free, including the car parking. Beat that!

We went on a Sunday. The Abby is stunning, however there are services being held so can only walk round inside between services. Wrong time of the year to visit as the gardens weren't in full bloom. It does however have little different gardens to walk around. None of the shops were open except for tge coffee shop.

The Abbey was very relaxing and peaceful. The gardens were lovely and well cared for. The story of Buckfast Abbey was very informative and inciting. This is one of the few religious places that is still free to visit. All they ask for is a donation if you want to. Inside the Abbey was spotless and the guides were very helpful. There were plenty of alters for reflection. The gift shop shelves were full of momentous at reasonable prices and the cafe food was fresh and tasty. Would definitely recommend for a day out . Thanks again for your hospitality.

We really enjoyed the exhibition, which was very interactive and the children really enjoyed it too. We had a sweet bite to eat from the cafe, followed by a tour of the beautiful Abbey and walked through the lavender gardens and the other beautifully designed gardens. I only wish we had got there earlier so we could have spent more time there. Very tranquil and just a lovely space to be in.

A lovely few hours around this historic Abbey. Some lovely architecture and lovely well kept gardens too. FREE entry but parking difficult as it gets VERY busy especially on a Sunday for a church service then a roast dinner after in the restaurant/Cafe area which is reasonable at £14.00pp (August 2023) I've done a few B&W photos of the Abbey and gardens

A place for contemplation or just a good day out - Buckfast abbey is a stunning place to visit, from the Abbey itself to the beautiful grounds and gardens, there is something here for everyone to enjoy. Tasty food on offer in the cafe and free entrance and parking ensures this is a popular place to visit! Just dont forget to make a small donation, which helps with the upkeep.

Buckfast Abbey is a fantastic place to visit especially because it's free. Yes, it's free. Make the most of the chance to walk around the grounds and steepe yourself in history and wonder. Absolutely magnificent. The Abbey itself is open to the public and services here can be joined in the rear Chapel. The main Abbey is a sight to behold, even if you're not religious, you will be wowed with is grandeur. There are lots of gardens to enjoy also. Iiked the Millennium Garden the most as the Deer statue was lovely . There is a restaurant onside called The Grange, but I would get a second mortgage if I were you as its very pricey. The restaurant is modern and roomy and is buffet style self serve. There is also veranda outside seating overlooking the Abbey. Overall, a positive and educational experience. Well worth a visit.

We went on a coach trip as part of our holiday. All facilities were kept immaculate. £2 charge for the museum and grounds. there was a gift shop and cafe however we didn't manage to visit or use as our time was limited.

Wow. Magnificent, immaculate Buckfast Abbey in beautifully kept grounds. Quite a lot of parking and an easy site to get around. You can also walk on the grass - indeed, you are encouraged to do so! Some very old buildings, well maintained and safe to move around. Cafés and restaurant and a pizzeria (Thursday to Saturday). But the Abbey! It is stunning, inside and if you're lucky, you might get to hear the organ in full voice!! Highly recommend - and it's free to visit!

Fascinating abbey; long history, recent building. Excellent pizza and weird buckfast tonic wine (brewed by the monks). Regardless of the weather - we had March rain - the kitchen, medicinal, lavender and sensory gardens are lovely to explore. There are a couple of tasteful shops and restaurants; the main church is stunning with gold, marble and plenty of light; the visitor centre has an excellent exhibition (£2 to enter) on the history of the abbey, the Benedictine order and Christianity within European. Parking and entry free. Exhibition £2.

I cannot explain the comfort this beautiful tranquil place gives me. I am not religious. You don't have to be here. The building is stunning. There's a lovely clean cafe with generous portions. The staff are calm and welcoming. You're not asked to pay a fee. Although I do like to give a donation. You can just sit in the Abbey or go into the chapel with its coloured window. There's a little gift shop and a couple of small peace gardens to have a wander around. Beautiful place.

Parking was free! Entry was free. Restaurant was nice and reasonably priced. Spent good couple of hours exploring. There was a museum (entry £2) but we decided too late to go and check it out it had closed early! If you haven’t already try a bottle of Buckfast Tonic Wine whilst your are there - so much loved by our friends North of the border!

A beautiful abbey church by Frederick Walters who was also behind the church at Ealing Abbey. Built on the footprint of the original monastery dissolved by Henry VIII in the 1530s. The current church was built by the returning monks including french and German. And completed just prior to the Second World War. The church indicates how a monastic church would like the sanctuary, quire and public space. The lady chapel statute of Our Lady of Buckfast is the reconstituted image of that destroyed in the reformation. On the south side chapel the hair shirt of St Thomas More is preserved. The grounds are extensive and includes a farm, the wine and beer factory and the Buckfast bees. Between the conference centre and abbey church are three gardens, physic, sensory and millennium. There is also a very nice pizzeria, a monastic interpretation centre on the history and life of the monks at Buckfast. A beautiful church in a beautiful place just by the Dartmoor national park.

Fantastic experience, even if you are not into the Steam Train era, it's an achievement in its self to protect our heritage, the carriages are just as l remember from when l was a child. Dog friendly and the staff are very helpful. The added bonus is easy free parking and a Butterfly and Otter Sanctuary.

We had an awesome day on the South Devon Railway today. They are so doggy friendly, ours were allowed to sit next to us on their towels on the seats. They were given doggy treats by one of the guards even before we set off. With a break for lunch we enjoyed 3 full return trips on day rover tickets so it was brilliant. Can't wait to go again soon. Thank you South Devon Railway staff for an excellent day out

Charming. Beautifully reconstructed and restored buildings. Lovely engines and carriages and lovely staff. Enjoyed every minute of going alongside the River Dart having tea and cake in the Buffet Carriage.

Very evocative I almost got a smut in my eye whilst stood on the bridge watching the train leave en route for Totnes. I found the museum fascinating . Lots to see for free even if you don't take the train. Super atmosphere in Buckfastleigh Station everyone else thoroughly enjoying it too. Did my soul good to visit today .

One of the top preserved railways. Buckfastleigh Station is well maintained, with lots to see with many of the locomotives stabled here and some undergoing maintenance. Nice cafe nearby and a model/ bookshop. The range of models is extensive in all gauges. Added attraction on site is the otter and butterfly attraction. (Didn't visit). Beautiful scenery for most of the journey with the rail line closely following the river Dart. We'll turned out locomotive and coaching stock.

Another great day out on the railways if Devon. This trip was from Buckfastleigh to Totnes and back. Beautiful views along the line; I would recommend riding in the end carriage if it is available as the views are tremendous. A well maintained Railway with regular services and friendly staff. We also visited the cafe at Buckfastleigh fir an enjoyable meal.

Decided to have a rest day and let someone else take the strain. Lovely ride on a steam railway in stunning countryside leaving buckfast you want to be on the right side for the best views. Staff are all really friendly and helpful as my wife is in a wheelchair they are always trying hard to make sure everything if perfect and they did.

This is a stunning steam railway journey. A proper trip down memory lane. We enjoyed travelling in the buffet car , watching the world go by. The river Dart alongside the train line. The staff and volunteers were very friendly and helpful. It was money very well spent.

I went Thursday and Friday during half term, all the volunteers were lovely! Everyone I spoke to was very friendly and for a rail enthusiast it’s definitely worth it. It was £17 (bargain!) for a day rover. I took a step onto the footplate as well and was allowed to ride in guards compartment when everywhere else was full. The Collett coaching stock is extremely authentic and you get beautiful views of the River Dart out the door. I asked about some of the locos and got a good detailed response and the buffet car food was nice. Only issue was mk1 coaches, but that’s just because they’re mk1 coaches and I’m not a fan of them. If you go there I’d recommend trying to get a compartment as it’s no extra cost but you can lean out the windows and get good shots easier. Definitely going again in March when it opens. You can get tickets very easily online or at any of the three beautifully presented stations. Overall a 9.5/10.

The Polar Express was just amazing, truly a magical experience, worth every penny, and more. My little boys absolutely loved every moment, the people were amazing, and Santa was so good. I can not recommend this enough to everyone, and my family will definitely be going next Christmas...

Fun Sunday lunch on the train in this exceptionally beautiful river valley. Steam engines and lots of other "memorabilia" adorn the stations. And there's a little museum & a model railway shop... The model railway includes Thomas the Tank Engine and Harry Potter's flying Ford Anglia!...

A fantastic trip on a comfortable well restored train. Lovely scenery in both directions. A lovely little museum at the station and a second small but informative museum about the Lee Moor railway in the garden and a lovely riverside path to explore and cafe for a cuppa while waiting for the train to arrive. Well worth a visit.

What a lovely day out! For me as a massive train enthusiast, it was perfect - the train was really comfortable, and the journey was nice and relaxing along the river dart. The wheelchair access, I feel I should mention, was good, as me my mum and my dad had a whole part of the buffet car to almost ourselves! ( the buffet car is one of the accessible coaches) overall a really lovely experience, lots ro do and a, like I said, lovely day our! Also, being a model railway fan, there was the biggest railway shop known to mankind! There was all you could ever need for a layout! The prices were quite reasonable too.

Hi all just been on the South Devon Railway. It's a must, I brought a group with me and the whole experience was great. Staff fantastic help on and off the train fantastic. Refreshments available on train and also at station. I made this trip many many years ago and the whole experience is as good as it was then. Well done boys and girls and all associated with this line.

Had a wonderful ploughman's lunch on board to celebrate a birthday and a wedding anniversary. It all went too quickly. The food was delicious and the staff were lovely.

Had a great day out on the South Devon Railway from Buckfastleigh to Totnes. Dogs welcome on the train for a small fee. Staff/volunteers were all friendly and the stations were lovely.

Lovely maintained railway and ride through the trees and meadows with the meandering Dart River. They also had refreshments on the train so a bonus. Thankyou

The South Devon railway at Buckfastleigh station. Really quite a nice place to visit considering it's free You can catch an old steam train or an old diesel train and travel along the railway from Buckfastleigh for £18 per adult and £12.50 per child. There is a cafe at the station and also a free museum if you care to look. There is also a Riverside walk a miniature railway a model railway and a model railway shop all for you to enjoy on site. Parking is shared by the otter and butterfly sanctuary but there is ample space for everybody with room for over 200 cars. A visit to the Polar Express can also be discovered here and I would definitely take the kids as it was amazing and I'm an adult. The staff here with friendly and happy to help and even took time to pose for a photograph outside the station itself, bravo gentlemen.

What a magical place ✨️ well done to all involved, from the parking staff to the actors all meticulously organised and so well done. Only quibble was the volume on the train (as an adult I was finding it very loud almost migraine triggering) so others with sensory needs must've also agreed. Otherwise perfect. Pleased to see some bits we're donated to the local food bank once it had finished its last day.

A wonderful shop, cafe and museum, as well as the steam train. The later trains were quiet and we had a choice of several lovely carriages to sit in. The train buffet served great hot chocolate and coffee. A Wonderful day out, worth every penny. We had the multi trip ticket for only £5 more and went up and down twice in the day.

Amazing day filled with lots of fun. Great food. Friendly staff. Easy to get there. We were here few times and always was queues everywhere. I guess it's a very popular place. If there are any events on it's very busy. Plenty of table to have a picnic.

Wonderful experience for animal lovers! Lots to do and a good structure to the day. There are many different animals and all seemed happy, healthy and stimulated. Our personal favourite activities were watching the pig racing and feeding the baby goats 🐐 We also loved sitting in the cuddle barn and holding a selection of animals, including piglets, rabbits and guinea pigs! Multiple places to grab a bite to eat/drink and picnic areas available too. Food on site was delicious, but a little expensive. Shaded kennel facilities for those who have dogs as they're not allowed onto the farm. I would recommend Pennywell farm to anyone! 🦄🐴🐢🐇🐁🐖🐐🦔🐏

A big hit with our daughter. So many animals to see, feed, and even a goat to try milking. The child had so much fun we went back a second time the next day. For adults, the view is gorgeous and the coffee is decent.

Devon is blessed with outstanding beauty so expect the farm to be lush and picturesque. We enjoyed it as a family trip,feeding and grooming animals, enjoying the tractor ride and the big show! Our favourite was baby animal cuddles! Mark and Lucy were fantastic at showing everyone around lest they miss any activities. Lucy, we loved the piggy race! Kids loved to get their activities stamped and we have preserved it as a souvenir. The lady at the reception counter ( sorry didn't get her name) was helpful and welcoming . The hot beverages were yummy.. especially the hot chocolate! The view from the tower was mesmerising. We will visit the farm again soon! Sharing some pics! You have to visit to experience it!

The place is so adorable, it is just how I imagined it would be. The trip there was worth it. The kids (baby goats) were so funny. MY mum and aunt went on this trip with me, they cuddled the piglets for such a long time. So soo many activities, you just don't get bored, something keeps on happening. It was a day well spent. They take good care of the animals as well.

We had a fantastic day at the Farm despite the rain. The views are just stunning, lovely picnic areas, plenty of animals and activities with them, tractor and train rides, trampolines bouncy castles , even a piggy race. The cafe serves delicious lunches, cakes and ice creams. The service from everyone was just superb, the best ones being Mark at the tills and the tractor driver. We're definitely coming back!

Bit of a last minute decision to change plans and come to Pennywell instead of other options. And, have to say we are so glad that we did. The whole place was so well run, with incredibly helpful and pleasant staff throughout. Loads of activities all very well scheduled and accessible to all. Kids (7 & 13) had a brilliant day. So much interaction with the animals and plenty other side quests to keep them happy. We spent just over 4.5-5 hours on site, enjoying some lunch (awesome pasties) and the time just flew in. Wish we'd maybe headed up earlier in the morning. Highly recommended to anyone visiting the area.

If you love animals then this is the place for you. The animals are happy and friendly and appear to have a great quality of life. What makes it an even more enjoyable trip is the team. Every staff member was lovely, warm and took the time to smile and speak to you. They really do make you feel welcome.

Thank you so much we had the best visit today. From the moment we arrived we were greeted by the most friendly and helpful staff I have ever come across. We had an action packed day and took part in all the activities - pony pampering, goat walking, goat milking, bottle feeding the goats, cuddling the baby piglets and other animals, ferret and pig racing. It really was so incredible to be able to get up so close to all the animals and they all looked so well looked after. My only complaint was it was hard cramming everything in, we will definitely be back. Thank you so much, I will recommend to everyone ❤️

Wow, what an incredible Christmas Nativity experience with my daughter and mum. We have had the most wonderful day at Pennywell Farm they have made this the most magical festive real life nativity experience, three hours full of festive magic, mulled wine, mince pies, toasting marshmallows, sweets, Santa & nativity animals. We will be back every year for sure. This day couldn’t be better, the staff were all outstanding. Thank you for making memories that will stay with us forever. ❄️🎅🐴🐷🌲

Lovely time with my friend! enjoyed seeing the animals and we loved the piglet cuddles and feeding the baby goats. Unfortunately it was absolutely pouring it down when we went so did leave earlier than we wanted but they did offer a free ticket to come another day and had overall amazing customer service. However as we drove from Tredegar after missing it when we were on holiday due to illness we didn't bother. All the animals are so sweet and it was a lot of fun for 2 animal loving adults 🐷🐐🐑

Amazing farm. One of the best. Very clean and the animals were so friendly. The piggy cuddles will melt your heart and the pig racing was absolutely hilarious!

Brilliant day out for the little ones and adults too . Piggy cuddles were wonderful and they run different activities with all the animals throughout the day so there is always something to do . Great value for money and all the animals look happy and well looked after. If you are in the area and looking for something to do with the children then I would highly recommend this for a day out , you can easily spend the whole day there and not get bored .

Without a doubt, the best farm we've ever visited (and we've been to A LOT)! There is enough to do to make it a three day trip - so many attractions for all ages and the entire family to enjoy. I recommend bringing your own food, as there isn't a huge range there, especially with fussy toddlers in tow! The food we did have was delicious though.

Action packed with events and things to do. Always a show or talk or animal interaction going on. Lovely setting and staff we're all super friendly and helpful. We even had a personalised welcome and intro to events on the farm by Ben.

Great day out, lots to do. Nice coffee shops, places to get food, pasties, sandwiches etc but also plenty of space to take a picnic! The half hourly sessions were great, all on a board and chose what you want to do. Great the little ones can use the train rides and tractors rides etc without additional cost. There are some extras like bumper bikes, so have a few £1 coins.

Extremely well set out so you get a chance to see everything. It's a fantastic place to take kids young and teenage age there is literally something for all ages. The tractor ride was brilliant. My little boy loved the different play areas. Our highlight of the day was getting to hold a baby pig absolutely amazing. Can't wait to come back 🙂🙂🙂🙂

Wow, what an absolutely fantastic day out! Every single staff member was so friendly, we spent the whole day here, from start to finish there was always something to do. You can see the animals are well looked after, we had the pleasure of meeting Oink, Cookie and their babies. The pumpkin patch is fabulous. Thank you for helping me and my son make the best memories :-)

Brilliant farm full of activities throughout the day. The big hits with my children were the mice holding, trampolines, pig racing and animal feeding. Lots of space and well looked after facilities. Would definitely recommend.

Pennywell is great. You do need dry weather for most of it but there was so much to do. Spring was great with all the baby animals and there was lots of options to hold. Going in with the miniature donkeys and pony's was lovely. There aren't many food options in the cafe especially for vegetarians, it was a vegetable pasty or an egg sandwich, and there weren't any vegan options. It's incredibly expensive to get in but a nice place to go for a treat.

We had an absolute blast at Pennywell farm and are already planning our next visit! There’s so much to do and it’s perfect for all ages. The staff are all very friendly and are full of information about the lovely animals. We especially enjoyed the piggy cuddles and the pig racing 😂 can’t wait to come back

A lovely way to spend your birthday 🎂 even at the grand old age of 60!!! The owner and all of the staff were absolutely lovely and made me feel like a kid again, with my special birthday rosette and being able to choose a free Teddy. Cuddling the micro piggies 🐷 was the highlight of my day. They were so cute and the best calming therapy you could wish for. I thoroughly recommend a visit, whatever your age!!!

What a fantastic farm , lots to do and see and take part in. The cuddles with the pigs was so cute. My husband and i learnt alot of information, the animals are well cared for and seem happy. It was the easter holidays so was really busy but you still could do everything. I would recommend buying tickets online and in advance. There are cafes and places to eat.

Love love love this place! Funny it had just as many grown ups as children wanting to cuddle the piggy's. Loads of activities through out the day and plenty of feeding and interactions with the animals. My wife's birthday and she loved it and the staff were beyond brilliant and made us feel very welcome.. The best!

I love Pennywell Farm. It's perfect a lovely day out. I have not been here for few years so today's visit was amazing. We got a lot of cuddles with a week old piglets and baby goats and other animals. Definitely recommend for a family day out!

Attended an excellent Mountain Skills courses in Snowdonia with Crag 2 Mountain. Georgia was our guide and was exceptionally knowledgeable and friendly. Some really useful skills learnt. This is now my fourth course with Crag 2 Mountain and I cannot recommend them highly enough. Excellent communication throughout the booking process with an easy to navigate website. Really reasonably priced courses as well. I will be booking again (I have already).

Our climbing hosts were professional, family friendly and extremely helpful. We had a really good day on the rocks, despite pouring rain. The routes were well chosen for our needs, and the abseiling was a fun addition to the day. I would recommend them without reservation.

Intoductory course during Storm Kathleen on Dartmoor, made it a bit wild but still a great experience. Would definitely recommend. Course broken into four sections: - Bouldering - Bottom Rope - Top Rope - Abseiling Instructor Barry was obviously very experienced and knowledgeable, while getting on easily with all ages.

Have used Crag 2 Mountain a couple of times to run caving and climbing events for our scout group. Fantastic company. Excellent, knowledgeable and brilliant with the kids.

I can’t recommend this company enough! We just completed the intermediate navigation course with Georgia, it was so informative and worthwvery penny. Thanks for providing such a great course!

We went caving and had an amazing time! Baz took us around the caves and encouraged to have fun in the passage ways and chambers and he felt like a mate in the group more than a guide. He has a great knowledge of the caves ensuring you can crawl, scramble and climb whilst being safe. I'd highly recommend doing with a group of friends its a great laugh and great adventure. Thanks Baz!

We had a great time with Baz and Georgia on their Rock adventure morning at Hound Tor. They were friendly, fun yet informative and confidence boosting. We had a group dominated by small children ranging 6-9 and they looked after them and tailored the session to everyone's abilities. I'd recommend their activities.

We had a brilliant family rock climbing session at Hound Tor, Dartmoor, this week and would definitely highly recommend. Connor, our instructor, was excellent, he adapted the session for us all (mum, dad and 2 boys aged 5 and 9) and we all came away buzzing, having had a brilliant experience...definitely the highlight of our trip. Our boys were a bit unsure at first but Connor's patience and reassurance gave them the confidence to have a go and, as they were ready, they went a bit further each time. We learned about the equipment and knots and Connor was knowledgeable about the local area. We felt completely safe and all got to have a go at the different roles of climbing, belaying and bell-ringing! Amazing views from the climbs and we loved having a go at weaselling too. A brilliant way to experience this amazing part of the world. Thank you Crag2Mountain, we'll be back!

Fantastic Rock Adventure Session!! Boys thoroughly loved the climbing 🧗 and weaselling 🪨 Baz and Georgia were fantastic, really well organised and super friendly. Will definitely be back 👌👌

Had a fantastic day out learning map reading skills. The Dartmoor weather wasn’t the best but had so much fun still. The instructor was brilliant and I learnt a lot on the day. I would recommend this company.

I thoroughly enjoyed the Basic Navigation Course at Sharpitor. Ian our guide was very professional and knowledgeable and delivered the course in a relaxed and fun way. It was a great day out on the moor and I now feel confident and inspired to get out and explore.

Thank you Crag2Mountain for a great weekend. I completed my Bronze award. It was so nice to be back on the moors again. Thank you for giving me the confidence to get back into walking & navigating.

A long overdue visit from a list of adventures. Friendly reception and certainly a true step back in time. Loved the authentic exhibition and the small museum offering information I'd never known about this historic village. A relaxed blast from the past for my term time visit and worth the entrance fee for the sheer pleasure of happy memories relived.

A very good reminder of a different era in tge UK. We'll worth a visit

It was interesting to us as we are of an age where the furnishings and decor remind us of our grandparents time. Spent an hour having a mooch and looking at the museum. Not sure of the appeal for the millennials and below 🤔

It was lovely and left you wondering what happened

Very interesting and probably unique. Reasonable entrance fee.

I loved this place. It is a real example of a community coming together and saving a hugely important focal point for a town. It serves to remember a past (not too distant) way of life, but also adds interest through a local area museum. A real treat for those keen to learn a little more about true British living in the early to mid 1900s. A word of warning to those with young children though - not buggy accessible.

Went with a group to visit this place. The guide was very informative. The pub was left exactly as it was when it closed. Would recommend.

What a little hidden gem! If you like local history, or buildings and contents that time forgot, this is for you. Fascinating wander through a pub that was closed in 1965 and left unchanged by the landlady and her husband who lived upstairs. The stuff left in the building is all still there for you to get close to and it's much cosier and more intimate than National Trust equivalents, and free!

So interesting! I can't wait to go home and share my photos with my parents (born the the 1940s) - there are so many memory-triggers to talk about! Really grateful to have had this opportunity to get so close to the past.

Absolute brilliant museum, lots to see and great informative reading. Very interesting and well worth the small entrance fee. Would highly recommend a visit.

what a little gem! Fascinating little time capsule museum

Just had an evening meal here while on holiday nearby. Food was fantastic. The welcome and service was great. We will definitely visit again and would recommend to anyone.

A return after a 5 year break and Kevin's welcome and Suzanne's food are as good as always! We were staying 'round the corner' not at the pub, but the food was good, honest, tasty fare that was welcome both evenings we ate there. Leave room for the sticky toffee and chocolate brownie puddings...you need to!!

It is a very welcoming pub that was clean and well presented. They had a good range of Dartmoor beer available and it was poured in the correct glass. The menu was well thought through (not just your pub grub) and the food was well presented and prompt. All the staff were friendly and it also had parking. Baby changing is also available. I would recommend.

I've not felt so unwelcome in any other pub ever. The greeting was less than welcoming but hey-ho, great view. Unfortunately our small dog escaped while we were sorting ourselves out. My husband got up and got her, the bar person pointed out she should be kept on her lead (she was but she had managed to pull it off my husband's foot.) Absolutely fair enough though, she shouldn't be on the loose! My husband was apologising but the response was surly at best. More apologies but the response was still short and we felt really unwelcome. My lager was cloudy but the response was that it was the glass (it wasn't- I'd cleared it) but the pint was replaced. It felt so frosty in the end, we finished our drinks outside to much banging going on within. She was clearly cross with us. We are not complainers but the atmosphere was horrible and we won't be back. Shame, view is beautiful.

We found the Tradesmans a little disappointing. We were in the area for a New Year getaway and had phoned previously to see if they would be serving meals, the landlord on the phone was very friendly and said that they were. When we arrived we couldn't get to the bar because those there wouldn't make room for us, we were told that they weren't serving food and when I asked for 4 drinks I was told to "wait! ", I was served 2 then asked again what else I wanted. The beer was good the wine average and the overall experience disappointing.

What a fantastic place! We rang at short notice for a table, and explained we had rather a large dog... They couldn't be more helpful and welcoming... They gave us a table away from everyone, so our dog could be settled and out of everyone's way. The hosts are definitely in the right job ☺️ Warm, welcoming, professional with a great service ethic. They both work the floor, checking everyone is OK, keeping drinks topped up and serving great pub grub. Top tip: whatever, have the sticky toffee pudding with the clotted cream.... Both locally made and super tasty. And I NEVER order desserts...! A definite recommendation, would most certainly go back, and a great walk up hill back to Holne to work off the pud... Thank you.

2 stars because the chips were nice but an extra 50p because we asked for hot water to go with the pot of tea rather puts us off returning. we ordered a cheese and apple sandwich but a ham sandwich arrived the first time and the second effort was cheese and pickle but by then the chips were going cold so we ate it rather than send it back again. We were the only customers!

Lovely pub / hotel tucked away from the town’s, nice food and peaceful atmosphere. Will definitely stay there again when I’m holidaying again

My dog and I had such a great stay and felt really cared for! Great for the Two Moors way. Awesome black out curtains and cosy bed and room. Great food. They went above and beyond to do gluten free and vegan food options. Definitely recommend.

A welcome stop at the end of a long day's walk from Ugborough. Friendly staff, comfortable rooms, good dinner. Sausages at breakfast could have been better cooked, but apart from that, all was excellent.

Walkers pub, excellent real ale on cask, value for money freshly cooked tasty pub grub. Nice views out back, good for kids and dogs. Venison burger and pie were both good. Landlord is dry but amusing. Would return for an ale or three!

We had a very enjoyable 3-night stay. Comfortable room, stunning views, good food and beer and lovely owners who helped us out with maps and recommendations for where to visit. Couldn't have asked for more.

Lovely location, friendly staff and yummy food. Also very dog friendly. Didn't stay over so don't know about rooms, but pub was great. Fab views from restaurant.

Stayed here Saturday 29/07/23 night. The room was lovely and clean and very comfortable. The breakfast I had Sunday morning was lovely. If I’m ever in the area again I will definitely book again. Thank you for a lovely stay.

Lovely venue, well done all those that contribute towards keeping this community resource going! You are all appreciated 2nd to none! Absolutely loved the winter cooler temps sessions! Already looking forward to next winter season. Keep up the good work 👏👏👏👏

Superb park for the kids nice gardens Also has a swimming pool to the side of the park

Small skate park ideal for under 12s. Plenty of other good playground equipment on the same site. Small outdoor pool but sufficient and well staffed.

Great outdoor space to keep the small humans entertained. Fun park, great skate ramps for smaller kids on scooters, a zip wire and outdoor pool (booking required) 👍

Had a lovely swim here with my Husband today.. touring around visiting lots of Lidos! Lovely warm clean pool. Community atmosphere. A basket for your clothes. Shower & toilet area looked very up to date. Loved the cute changing rooms. Friendly staff .. had to buy a swim hat!

All the positive reviews make me question if we visited the same pool! The pool was filthy - full of dead flies, wasps and flying ants. Whilst you might expect some I have never been to an outdoor pool where dead insects lined the floor. Even worse when you get out you can't even have a warm shower to feel clean again. Definitely wouldn't recommend a swim here and certainly won't be returning.

Brilliant Park! Our children always have a brilliant time here as well as us adults 😀 We often visit here on a week day and treat the children to a chip shop dinner on the way home. It's a lovely evening out.

It is quite nice and its usually not too busy. The parking is fairly cheap and the staff are very kind. The changing rooms are quite spacious and the pool is big. You get a fairly large basket to put your belongings in and you keep it near the pool. There is a nice selection of drinks and snacks in the mini cafe and outside seating. All in all it's nice.

Heated pool in the summer and run as an unheated pool through the winter months. Run by a fantastic team of volunteers.

Excellent value for money and an incredible asset to Buckfastleigh, this pool is clean and well worth a visit! It's heated and I can get in it without squealing (I'm a wuss!) My daughter is 5 and loves it too, she can stand up in part of the shallow end. Helpful and friendly staff too. Definitely going to be there all summer!