Dartmoor Otters & Buckfast Butterflies
BEST FOR
Ages 0-15
ENTRY
from £11
WHERE
Buckfastleigh
What it’s like
A riverside otter park where keeper talks and feeding times set the pace, plus a steamy butterfly house to warm up in.
The otters are the whole point here. Feeding happens three times a day, 11:30am, 2pm and 4pm, and each one comes with a keeper tour, so you can time your visit around whichever slot suits nap schedules or fits before lunch. Between feeds there's a path beside the River Dart where wild otters turn up on their own terms, which is a nice bit of luck rather than a promise, and worth building in some slow wandering time for.
The butterfly house is the other big draw, and it's genuinely hot and humid inside. There's a small children's playground too, useful for burning a bit of time between feeding sessions without having to leave the site.
Tickets run £11 for a child and £14 for an adult, with a family saver at £42 for two adults and two children, which works out kinder than paying separately if you've got the full set. Booking ahead is an option and cancellations are fine up to 24 hours before, but no-shows aren't refunded.
It's open daily from 10am to 5pm, and it's described as wheelchair accessible, though some of the otter pen fences are too high to see over from a seated position and a few pathways are gravel and narrow. The keepers are apparently happy to point out the better vantage points if you ask, which is a decent workaround rather than a proper fix.
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- 3 to 11, with the playground and feeds holding younger ones' attention
- Booking
- Pre-purchase tickets available or buy at reception
- Wheelchairs
- Accessible but some otter pen fences too high to see over when seated and some pathways gravel and narrow
- Dogs
- Assistance dogs only with UK residency of 6 months or rabies vaccination documentation
- No-show tickets aren't refunded, so cancel at least 24 hours ahead if plans change
- Wild otters sometimes appear along the River Dart walk, though it's never guaranteed
- Ask keepers for the best spots to see over the otter pen fences if you're using a wheelchair
- The butterfly house runs hot and humid, so dress for it
Plan your visit
How much does it cost?
£11 for a child aged 3 to 15, £14 for an adult, £13 for a senior. A family saver for two adults and two children is £42.
What time is otter feeding?
11:30am, 2pm and 4pm, each with a keeper tour alongside the feed.
Do we need to book ahead?
You can pre-purchase or buy on arrival at reception. Pre-booked cancellations are fine up to 24 hours before, but no-shows aren't refunded.
Is it suitable for a toddler?
There's a small children's playground and gentle riverside walking, though some pathways are gravel and narrow, which can be tricky with a buggy.
Is the butterfly house good for young kids?
It's popular, but it's very hot and humid inside, so it suits a shorter visit rather than a long dawdle.
Is it wheelchair accessible?
Yes, the site is accessible, though some otter pen fences are too high to see over from a seated position and a few paths are narrow gravel. Keepers can point out better viewing spots.
Can we bring the dog?
Only assistance dogs, and they need UK residency of six months or rabies vaccination documentation. They're also not allowed in the butterfly house.
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