Free entry
Open to the public seven days a week from 9am - 4pm.
Christmas Day: Our visitor centre, restaurant and gift shop will be closed, but our car park and walkways will be open from 9am to 4pm.
This free-to-visit, award-winning attraction has something special to offer, whether you’re looking for quality time with the kids, or somewhere calming to kick back with a coffee and cake.
Explore everything the sanctuary has to offer, from award-winning gardens and scenic coastal path walks to engaging exhibits - there’s so much to explore with your own herd whatever the weather!
We are a working farm and many of our walkways are grass, so please dress appropriately and bring suitable footwear for the weather.
Dogs are welcome at the sanctuary but they must be kept on a lead at all times. Dogs are also welcome in The Kitchen restaurant but please keep them under your table and out of the walkway at all times.
Facilities
What’s on
Discover the exciting events currently on offer at The Donkey Sanctuary Sidmouth.
Learn about our miniature herd in their super new paddock in our new winter trail.
Join us at The Donkey Sanctuary Sidmouth on Friday 6 December 2024 to get a pinch of Christmas magic - featuring the all-important donkeys.
What can I expect from my visit?
Whenever you enjoy a visit to our Sidmouth sanctuary, based in the heart of the beautiful Devon countryside, you’re helping more donkeys find their happy ever after. What better way to make a difference by having a fantastic day out for free?
From award-winning gardens to informative talks, educational exhibitions and exciting trails, there is something for everyone to enjoy.
And of course, your visit to our Sidmouth centre wouldn’t be complete without meeting the adorable donkeys whose lives you’re a big part of!
Gaze up at Percy, a beautiful, fluffy Poitou donkey, or grab a cup of tea and watch the world go by with Cocoa as he enjoys his golden years at our sanctuary. There are so many delightful donkeys to discover.
Our minis have a brand-new home
Our miniature donkeys have been settling in to their new home – a state-of-the-art paddock which you may have seen being constructed throughout 2024.
Their new paddock and shelter, which opened in October 2024, offers generous space for our lively herd to explore, play and socialise with one another.
What’s more, the paddock has been specially designed to house all donkey breeds, meaning that it can accommodate different long-eared friends when required.
For now though, be sure to visit the minis and share in the excitement of their new home. Peanut, Maverick and all of their four-hooved friends at the sanctuary can’t wait to meet you!
Getting here
How to find us
You can find us by car, bus, bike or foot using these directions.
Our Sidmouth headquarters is open to the public seven days a week from 9am - 4pm, with last entry to the car park at 3:30pm
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Contact us
Telephone: +44 (0)1395 578222.
The nearest motorway to The Donkey Sanctuary is the M5, which serves the West Country. Getting off at Junction 30 at Exeter will take you on the A3052 for 13 miles until you reach the sanctuary. The A35 and the A30 also serve East Devon and the Jurassic Coast.
Satnav: EX10 0NUThe main car park has space for approximately 100 cars parking on stone chippings and our overflow grass car park can accommodate a further 600 cars.
We also have 14 disabled parking spaces to allow accessibility to the sanctuary for wheelchair users.
There are two free electric car charging points, available on a first come, first served basis.
Local bus routes serving The Donkey Sanctuary include the 899 Axe Valley Mini Travel, And Stagecoach 9A between Exeter and Seaton.
We are bike-friendly and The Donkey Sanctuary sits on Route 2 of the National Cycle Network. The route between Sidmouth and Lyme Regis passes Trow Farm on Dunscombe Lane. Continue on Dunscombe Lane, crossing over the roundabout, until you reach the sanctuary’s main visitor entrance. There is a bike rack (uncovered) at the main entrance.
The kitchen
Take sanctuary in our award-winning restaurant and enjoy fresh, local, seasonal produce while soaking in coast and country views. Pre-booking is not required.
The Kitchen is open 7 days a week from 9am - 4pm, with last orders at 3:45pm.
We offer the option of dining in the restaurant or you can purchase food and drink to takeaway and enjoy in our outdoor picnic areas.
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Meet the herd
A sweet, calm donkey enjoying his golden years and always putting others before himself.
Drizzle is a laid-back and popular member of her herd. Her gorgeous coat makes her easy to spot.
Percy the Poitou is our largest adoption donkey. His distinctive long, thick coat makes him stand out from the crowd.
A confident chap who is easy to spot with his recognisable brown and white markings and pink nose.
Zena is a sweet girl who overcame the odds after a difficult start to life. Nowadays, she loves playing with her donkey friends.
A charming chap, who despite losing an eye still has a big personality and a radar for fun.
A popular and sociable donkey who is an expert at having fun. He always knows how to brighten up everyone’s day.
A curious donkey who always loves trying new activities and basking in the sun.
A playful and inquisitive donkey that is always up for some fun and likes to keep his grooms on their toes.
Theo is an incredibly laid-back character, who loves spending time with his son David.
His name may be Tornado, but this charming donkey is a very gentle and polite member of his herd.
Cleo is a social butterfly and loves spending time with both humans and donkeys alike.
Miniature in size but mighty in personality, Maverick is a big character at our Sidmouth sanctuary.
Peanut may be a miniature donkey, but he is a big foodie and loves activities which involve his favourite treats.
Accessibility
We have a limited number of wheelchairs and two mobility scooters* available to pre-book. Please contact us if you’d like to pre-book a mobility aid for your visit.
The Donkey Sanctuary is a No Smoking (Including E-Cigarettes) venue, this includes all walkways and gardens.
Our full accessibility statement outlines all the details for visitors planning a day at The Donkey Sanctuary.
*Weight limit on scooters; 26 stone (165 kg) and 19 stone (120 kg)
Protecting visitors, staff and donkeys
The health, safety and wellbeing of our visitors, staff and donkeys are paramount at The Donkey Sanctuary and are the overriding factor in our decision-making.
We have a number of safety measures in place to protect us all as much as possible.
Group Visits
We welcome pre-booked group visits to our Sidmouth sanctuary. Pre-booked groups benefit from free admission, parking and tailored menus in The Kitchen restaurant.
More information section
More information
The sanctuary is open seven days a week from 9am - 4pm, with last entry to the car park at 3:30pm.
Christmas Day: Our visitor centre, restaurant and gift shop will be closed, but our car park and walkways will be open from 9am to 4pm.
We are a working farm and many of our walkways are grass, so please dress appropriately and bring suitable footwear for the weather.
Contact
Email our enquires team at Sidmouth.
Telephone: +44 (0)1395 578222
Visitor frequently asked questions
Our Sidmouth Sanctuary is open seven days a week from 9am - 4pm in the summer, with last entry to the car park at 3:30pm.
Christmas Day: Our visitor centre, restaurant and gift shop will be closed, but our car park and walkways will be open from 9am to 4pm.
From February to November, our sanctuary is open from 9am-5pm, with last entry to the car park at 4:30pm.
Pre-booking is not required, but we recommend checking our website and social media pages for the latest information and updates before leaving home.
Pre-booking for group visits is essential. For more information or to book your group visit, please call 01395 578222.
Yes, we welcome groups of any size all year round.
Pre-booking for groups is essential. For more information or to book your group visit, please call 01395 578222.
Yes, all the walkways around the sanctuary will be open, allowing plenty of opportunities to visit your adoption donkey.
Our adoption donkeys are always treated as part of their wider herd, so please understand that you are coming to see our whole herd of donkeys, of which your adoption donkey is a part.
As such, we do not bring adoption donkeys over to adopters individually, as we respect their freedom of choice to move around the fields. All animals benefit from having choice in their day-to-day routine and giving donkeys freedom to roam lets them choose a way of engaging with their environment that suits their needs best, whatever their character. If your adoption donkey is not in view, more often than not they will appear as they move within their environment if you wait patiently. We have done all we can to make sure visitors have access to as many viewpoints as possible, but we thank you for your understanding that, with animals who have freedom of choice, not every donkey will be in view all of the time.
Yes, The Kitchen is open daily from 9am – 4pm, with breakfast served from 9am - 11am and lunch from 11.30am - 3pm.
We offer the option of dining in the restaurant or you can purchase food and drink to takeaway and enjoy in our outdoor picnic areas.
Christmas Day: Our visitor centre, restaurant and gift shop will be closed, but our car park and walkways will be open from 9am to 4pm.
From February to November, The Kitchen is open from 9am - 5pm, with last orders at 4:45pm.
Yes, the Gift Shop is open daily from 9am - 5pm.
Please avoid touching anything that you are not intending to buy.
Our daily talks will be taking place at Main Barn everyday at 11:00am and 2:00pm.
All walkways around Slade House Farm and Trow Farm (not Trow Offices) will be open providing plenty of opportunities to interact with the resident donkeys. Please DO NOT feed the donkeys, their diets are carefully managed by our staff to make sure they receive the appropriate food.
The Play Area and Maze are also open, but Hermitage Woods remains closed at this time.
This area is closed due to ash dieback. We will comply with Natural England best practices and treat 300 trees in this woodland. As part of our conservation strategy we will also be planting new trees at a number of our farms.
Yes, the higher section is open for visitors to enjoy, but scattering of ashes is by appointment only. Please call us in advance on 01395 578222 to arrange this.
Yes, please find our full map here.
Yes, we run regular trails, providing lots of family fun while visiting. Find out about our current trail.
Yes, dogs are welcome at the sanctuary but they must be kept on a lead at all times. Please note, dogs are welcome in the restaurant but please keep them under your table and out of the walkway at all times.
Yes, although cards are the safest payment method for you and our staff.
Our brand-new donkey paddock opened in October 2024 after undergoing a complete redesign and refurbishment and is home to a herd of seven miniature donkeys. The new design focuses on giving our miniature donkeys more freedom, choice, enrichment and all-round life experience.
You can watch the herd in their new paddock on the miniatures webcam.
Our other miniature donkeys can still be visited at our sanctuary and can seen at the following shelters:
Rusty and Dandy can be seen at Flagpole 2 shelter. While Benji, Henry, Jasper and Ricky can be visited at Shelter 3. Finally, Tulip, Tally and Lilac have moved to shelter 4 and can be viewed on the shelter 4 webcam.
Our Belfast and Derbyshire centres remain open to the public. For information on booking a visit to our Belfast sanctuary, visit our Belfast page. Our Derbyshire sanctuary has five open days a year from May to September, find out more information here.
