A festive bray out with the Sidmouth donkeys  

The Donkey Sanctuary in Sidmouth has the festive season all wrapped and is the perfect winter’s day out for the whole family. 

With a new winter trail, free admission and parking, an award-winning gift shop and restaurant, the sanctuary in the heart of the East Devon countryside is open every day except Christmas Day. There is lots to see and do, both indoors and outside, and dogs on leads are welcome too.

The Toys and Treats winter trail gives people the chance to search for clues hidden around the sanctuary and discover the Adoption donkeys’ favourite enrichment toys and treats.  

Here at the sanctuary, all the donkeys love to forage for their treats and play with their toys, this helps to exercise, excite and entertain them. Trail sheets cost £5 each and include a prize on completion.

There are more than 200 resident donkeys at the Sidmouth sanctuary, plus a play area, daily talks, engaging hands-on exhibits, a maze to explore and miles of walkways.    

There’s even a new Bat Beacon, where people can find out how these fascinating flying mammals thrive around the sanctuary grounds while benefitting the resident donkeys too.  

To escape the winter chill, the award-winning on-site restaurant The Kitchen is the perfect place to warm up and take sanctuary. Serving up freshly prepared, locally sourced seasonal produce, the restaurant has stunning views of the surrounding countryside and sea beyond, while the Gift Shop is the ideal place to do some Christmas shopping or pick up a souvenir, safe in the knowledge that every purchase supports the work of the charity. 

The Donkey Sanctuary in Sidmouth is open daily from 9am – 4pm.  

For more details, please visit:https://www.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk/