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HOLIDAY EXPRESS 2010 15
JUST THE TICKET . . . at the South Devon Railway
The South Devon Railway is a fantastic, steamy day out! It’s one of the West Country’s top tourist attractions and will appeal to everyone in the family!
The railway is an outstanding seven-mile train ride behind a magnificent GWR steam engine between Buckfastleigh and Totnes, along one of England’s most beautiful stretches of river.
There is loads to see and do. We have a play area, beautiful
gardens, a riverside picnic area, a museum, workshop and refreshment rooms plus a great gift shop. Buckfastleigh station, which is just off the A38, midway
between Exeter and Plymouth, has plenty of free car parking.
The SDR station at Totnes is a short walk from Totnes town and the main line
– Well worth a visit –
BUTTERFLY FARM & OTTER SANCTUARY
FOR nature lovers, the Butterfly Farm and Otter Sanctuary at Buckfastleigh on the edge of Dartmoor, is well worth a visit. Many of us are familiar with otters from books, films and television programmes and butterflies, with their brightly coloured wings are welcome visitors in our gardens during the summer months. Here is a chance to see and learn about both, whatever the weather.
The Butterfly Farm is a tropical landscaped garden with ponds, waterfalls and bridges along with exotic plants and foliage to make the perfect environment for tropical butterflies from around the world to live and breed. They can be seen flying free all around along with lots of small birds and other creatures too, including leaf cutting ants from Costa Rica, terrapins and some lovely Koi carp.
The complete butterfly life-cycle can be studied and photographed in close up, and there is even a special area where butterflies can be seen emerging from the chrysalis, before drying their wings and
making their first flight. Visitors can stay as long as they wish with the butterflies before entering the Otter Sanctuary.
Here there are usually over a dozen otters to be found. Some are rescued, some have been bred here, others are part of breeding exchanges and some are just very old, in need of extra care and are here for retirement!
There are three species to be seen including our
native British or European otter which can be shy and elusive in the wild along with the playful little Asian otters which are a joy to watch and the large North American River Otters which are real show-offs.
There is a special underwater viewing area where the otters can be seen in their element, diving and playing in a mass of sparkling air bubbles. They sometimes even dive down and watch the visitors through the glass panels themselves.
Feeding times for the otters are great fun and
take place at 11.30am, 2.00pm and 4.30pm every day. The otter keeper takes visitors around at this time and explains all about the different otters and answers any questions that visitors may have.
Donít miss the lovely gift shop with its nature and wildlife theme. Also there is an on line shop at
www.ottersandbutterflies.co.uk, ideal for last minute or unusual gifts.
There is combined admission for both the
butterflies and the otters with family tickets available along with reductions for groups and school parties.
FAlso visitors may purchase a discounted combined ticket with the South Devon Steam Railway making for an interesting and varied day out. Opening time is 10.00am every day until the end of October.
station.
And with joint tickets available for Dartmoor Otters & Buckfast Butterflies and the Totnes Rare
Breeds Farm, it’s just the ticket for a whole day filled with fun and interest!
T: 0845 345 1427
E:
trains@southdevonrailway.org W:
ww.southdevonrailway.co.uk.
Open Easter to October. Come see our new baby
Paignton Zoo is one of Britain’s top zoos. It’s home to some of the planet’s rarest and most amazing creatures. Discover all your favourites, like gorillas and orang utans, elephants
and giraffes, lions, tigers and rhinos. And be ready for a few surprises along the way, too. Do you know what a bongo is, have you ever seen a red river hog? And don’t forget the plants – there are hundreds of rare, special and beautiful specimens around the site.
A must-see is Crocodile Swamp. Here, amid the lush tropical foliage and steamy atmosphere, you’ll come face-to-face with Cuban, Nile and saltwater crocodiles plus large snakes, turtles and fish – enter if you dare! Then there’s Amphibian Ark, the Avian Breeding Centre and Monkey Heights. Paignton Zoo is a registered charity, so not only do you get a good day out, you know your hard-earned money is going to a good cause, supporting education, scientific research and practical conservation both at home and abroad. Paignton Zoo has plenty to keep everyone going all day – as well as the amazing wildlife there’s food, shopping, indoor and outdoor play areas, a miniature train, a free bird show and the hands-on interactive Discovery Centre. Web site
www.paigntonzoo.org.uk
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