Buckfast Butterflies & Dartmoor Otter Sanctuary

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Important info for winter at Buckfast Sanctuary

  • From November 10th they will be open every day from 10am-3pm with otters only
  • Over the Christmas holiday period they are closed December 24th, 25th and 26th and open 27th to Jan 1st
  • The butterfly house is closed from now until next spring
  • Otter feeding times are 11.30am, 2.00pm. These are the best times to see and enjoy the amazing resident otters!

Enjoy an otterly fantastic day out in Devon!

Combine learning and fun at Otters & Butterflies Devon. 

Whether you're visiting Devon alone or with family, friends or loved ones, you'll find lots to see and learn at this small, friendly, family-run Otter sanctuary and Butterfly farm, located on the southern border of stunningly beautiful Dartmoor National Park, between Exeter and Plymouth.

Visit the adorable Buckfast Butterflies & Dartmoor Otter Sanctuary

Otters & Butterflies has been carefully designed to provide the perfect conditions for resident Otters to live their best lives and excellent opportunities for visitors to see and enjoy them.

You'll learn all about the resident Otters, from their names and personalities to their favourite things to eat and what they get up to when no one is looking!  

Combining learning with a fun day out in Devon, Otters & Butterflies aims to encourage and inspire visitors to learn more about the daily lives of these fascinating creatures while creating a unique attraction for kids and adults alike.

In addition, they have facilities to treat any sick or injured otters that may be brought in. It's hoped that having seen and enjoyed the resident otters and been given an insight into their secret way of life, visitors will be more aware of the plight of otters worldwide, particularly our own native British Otter.

See beautiful butterflies

You'll also see a glorious spectrum of colour, a real feast for the eyes, at the Butterfly Farm. With many different species of butterflies from around the world, including the pretty Peacock Pansy found in South Asia, which changes its colour depending on the season!

Glimpse the cocoons where caterpillars undergo their transformation into beautiful butterflies. If you stay very still, one might even decide to stop off on your fingertip and rest its wings! 

Devon TQ11 0DZ
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How to get there

Buckfast Butterflies & Dartmoor Otter Sanctuary,
Buckfastleigh,
Devon, TQ11 0DZ

By car:

Otters & Butterflies is easily reached just off the A38 Devon Expressway at the Dart Bridge junction. There are large brown tourist signs guiding visitors from the junction to the car park. The journey from Exeter or Plymouth by road takes about half an hour and from the Torbay area about three quarters of an hour.

By rail:

Its is also possible to visit Otters & Butterflies by rail by travelling to Totnes main line station and then taking a steam train from Totnes, travelling on the South Devon Steam Railway from Totnes to Buckfastleigh. The South Devon Steam Railway is adjacent to the Butterfly Farm and Otter Sanctuary and there is a short two minute walk from the platform.

  • Toilets

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