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About This Centre
No trip to Devon is complete without visiting The Donkey Sanctuary. There’s a tranquil corner of the Jurassic Coast near Sidmouth that hundreds of friendly donkeys call home, and they’re all waiting to meet you. This free-to-visit, award–wining attraction has something special to offer, whether you’re looking for quality time with the kids, or somewhere calming to kick back with coffee and cake. Explore everything the sanctuary has to offer, from scenic walks and award-winning gardens, to a new play area, hedge maze and engaging exhibits. With activities, trails and talks there’s so much to explore with your own herd, whatever the weather. Friendly dogs on leads are welcome too!
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Real Experiences
"Lovely visit in spite of the sea fret! The donkeys were very lively which amused our grandson. Great to be able to use the mobility scooter for my mother. She was able to access all areas. The cafe was wonderful too, lovely food. Thankyou for a great day."
a month ago
"This is a great place! It has ample free parking and it's free to get in. We had a lovely wander around the fields and shelters to see the donkeys. They're adorable! There lots of information about them and what the sanctuary is doing in places around the world to look after these beautiful animals. We dodged a shower by sitting in the video room, watching videos that told us more about the work of the sanctuary. We also listened to a talk given by one of the knowledgeable volunteers - it was really interesting. The kitchen served beautiful cakes and various meals, and we had a lovely cream tea. I'd definitely recommend a trip here."
3 months ago
"Wonderful place! Exceeded expectations! Open to visitors 24/7, 365 days per year. Really well set out, with high quality pens & pathways. Visitors centre is excellent as is the shop and cafe “Kitchen”! Highly recommended and I’ll certainly be going back to see our adopted donkey Drizzle!"
2 months ago
"What a great place to visit...and its free entry! The grounds are very good for the animals and the visitors, the restaurant has a lot of choice and the shop is very reasonably priced. There's lots to see for everyone, its dog friendly with mapped out paths around all the fields holding the donkeys. Some are brave enough to come up to the fence so you can stroke them, which is a bonus! A great place to bring the kids and see the animals. You can also adopt a donkey as well for a small price! Loved it here and will definitely return! Make sure you wear footwear according to the seasons though, it can get a little muddy!"
4 months ago
"We had an amazing and educational day today at the Donkey Sanctuary. All the Donkeys where very friendly and looked very well cared for. Staff and volunteers where welcoming and eager to answer all of our questions.The cafe had some nice vegan options however the menu could have been focused more on plant based foods."
a month ago
