Dartmoor Otters & Butterflies And Free Time

Dartmoor Otter Sanctuary and Buckfast Butterflies

Welcome to the Dartmoor Otter Sanctuary and Buckfast Butterfly Farm.

A small, friendly, family run South Devon attraction, ideal for a family visit whatever the weather.

Otters are familiar animals in books, films and television programmes and are found almost everywhere in the world except the large oceanic islands of Madagascar and Australasia and the frozen ice caps. Otters belong to the group of animals known as the Mustelids. This group includes weasels, stoats, mink, skunks and badgers.

The Dartmoor Otter Sanctuary has been carefully designed to provide our resident otters with the best possible conditions within the confines of the enclosures and our visitors with excellent opportunities to see and enjoy them. We also have facilities for the treatment and convalescence of any sick or injured otters that may be brought to us. We have over the past 15 years treated a number of ailments, not only to otters but also to other animals and birds. It is hoped that having seen and enjoyed our resident otters, and been given an insight into their secret way of life, visitors will be more aware of the plight of otters world-wide, particularly of course our own native British Otter Lutra lutra.

The Butterfly House is a specially designed and maintained exhibition of living exotic butterflies and moths, where visitors can enjoy direct contact with some of the most beautiful members of the insect order Lepidoptera from around the world and find out lots of information on butterflies.

Within the flight area the environment is carefully controlled and monitored to maintain perfect conditions for the live butterflies to live and breed as they would in the wild. A high temperature and humidity is maintained not only to support the beautiful butterflies, but also sustain the exotic plants and flowers needed to enable the butterflies and larvae to feed. Thus, the natural habitat of the butterfly has been reconstructed at our butterfly farm in such a way as to allow visitors an insight into the fascinating way of life of these creatures.

Visit the shop for lots of great otter and butterfly gift ideas.

Totnes

Dating back to 907 AD, Totnes is a fascinating historical town which combines stunning countryside with independent shopping, local food & drink and interesting attractions

Please note: Friday 24th January 2025 - free time will be in Exeter (not Totnes).

Depart Approx. 17.30