20 Attractions to Explore Near Buckfast Butterfly Farm and Dartmoor Otter Sanctuary

The SDR is a seven mile former Great Western Railway branch line, built in 1872, which runs along the stunning valley of the River Dart between Buckfastleigh and Totnes. It is the longest established steam railway in the south west, celebrating over 50 years in preservation. The railway's headquarters and museum are located at Buckfastleigh railway station.

Buckfast Abbey is a modern Benedictine monastery in a peaceful setting on the verge of Dartmoor. . The monastery was surrendered for dissolution in 1539, with the monastic buildings stripped and left as ruins, before being finally demolished. The former abbey site was used as a quarry, and later became home to a Gothic mansion house.

Pennywell Farm is packed full of animals, activities, shows and displays. It’s the biggest activity farm in the South West and there’s something new happening every hour. It is a centre for the breeding of miniature pigs, a variant of the New Zealand kune kune breed.

Staverton is a delightful, unspoiled country station that has remained largely unchanged for 100 years. This is a good place to alight for a quiet walk beside the river Dart and, maybe, a refreshment break at the Sea Trout Inn (when Auto Trains are running, then one can alight from these special trains at Nappers Crossing. Staverton Station has limited free car parking available.

One of the best-preserved examples of a Norman motte and bailey castle in England. Climb to the top of the keep to enjoy stunning views over the town of Totnes and across to the River Dart. Or enjoy a picnic in the peaceful grounds under the shelter of age-old trees - there is plenty of space for families to relax on a summer's day.

Berry Pomeroy Castle, a Tudor mansion within the walls of an earlier castle, is near the village of Berry Pomeroy, in South Devon. Begun in around 1560 and ambitiously enlarged from around 1600, their mansion was intended to become the most spectacular house in Devon, a match for Longleat and Audley End. Never completed, and abandoned by 1700, it became the focus of blood-curdling ghost stories, recounted in the audio tour.

Situated on the southeastern edge of Dartmoor, Haytor has spectacular views across Dartmoor and the South Devon coast and offers good opportunities for you to experience Dartmoor’s fascinating past and the stunning wildlife and heritage within a short walk of the National Park Visitor Centre. One of the nice trekking destinations and also you can spend a nice time here.

The 10-acre vineyard lies between 12m and 25m above sea level on south-facing, well-drained slopes – perfect for growing a range of carefully selected cool-climate grape varieties, from which 70,000 bottles of wine are made each year. One of the iconic locations Situated on the banks of the River Dart near Totnes in South Devon. Sharpham Wine & Cheese's vineyards and dairy farm have been producing carefully-made wines and cheeses for over 35 years to local, national, and international acclaim.

The National Trust's Compton Castle, Devon, is a dramatic fortified manor house and small formal garden. A rare survivor, this medieval fortress with high curtain walls, towers and a portcullis, set in a landscape of rolling hills and orchards, is a bewitching mixture of romance and history. One of the iconic attraction here and it attracts a lot of tourists.

It is a heavily weathered granite outcrop. It consists of two separate rock masses which lie on a north-westerly alignment. The highest point of the tor is on the south-westerly pile which stands at 1,358ft. The site is administered by Dartmoor National Park Authority for English Heritage as it includes the ruins of a medieval village, alongside prehistoric works of stone construction nearby.

Dartmoor National Park is a vast moorland in the county of Devon. Covering 368 sq miles, this vast national park feels like it’s tumbled straight out of a Tolkien tome, with its honey-colored heaths, moss-smothered boulders, tinkling streams, and eerie granite hills. One of the iconic attractions in this area and gives a new experience in the middle of nature.

Woodlands Family Theme Park is the largest theme park in Devon, a fun-filled family day out for everyone. It has 11 action-packed Playzones with all-weather family fun to make your family day out special. Explore the incredible Zoo-Farm with 5 huge indoor barns full of wild, exotic, and cute animals and also there are much more to see and experience.

It is the former holiday home of Agatha Christie and her family. It was situated in a large and romantic woodland garden which sweeps down the hillside towards the River Dart. Each room in the house is full of items collected by Christie and her family and brought to Greenway from her childhood home or archaeological digs with her second husband Max. One of the iconic attractions in this area and attracts a lot of tourists.

Wistman's Wood is an ancient forest that has largely been left to grow wild, free of destruction, or shaping by humans or large animals. This National Nature Reserve of 170ha mainly consists of a model example of the upland heathland and has a wealth of moorland birds. Wistman’s Wood is in the Dart river valley and has views of wild Devon that you won’t find anywhere else in the country.

Dartmoor Prison Museum reflects the heritage of HMP Dartmoor from Prisoner of War Depot to the present day. The museum attracts more than 35,000 visitors every year from all over the world. Some of the artifacts and documents on display will surprise you but will certainly enable you to form an opinion about prison life.

Dartmoor Zoo is a beautiful 30-acre zoo just north of the village of Sparkwell. It was opened in 1968 by Ellis Daw who ran it until its licence was revoked and it was forced to close in 2006. It has over 70 different animal species, including some endangered and critically endangered species. The zoo has a breeding program with common marmosets, tapir, slender-tailed meerkats, Kafue lechwe, and wallaby.

Dartmouth Steam Railway is a 6.7-mile heritage railway on the former Great Western Railway branch line between Paignton and Kingswear in Devon, England. The only attraction in Devon that lets you enjoy the delights of Torquay, Paignton, Brixham, Dartmouth and the River Dart, Kingswear, and Totnes on your day out.

Canonteign Falls is a stunning natural attraction in the heart of Devon that offers the perfect day out for the whole family Set in 90 acres of park and woodland. As well as the main waterfall itself there is also some smaller waterfalls, 7 lakes, 2 play parks, a cafe, a shop and giant bunnies. It is 220 feet high and is one of the highest waterfalls in England. It was created in 1890 by diverting a stream over the edge of a cliff.

The miniature pony centre sitting on the edge of wild and magical Dartmoor in Devon is a hidden gem of all things small, cute and cuddly. Unicorns, Miniature Shetlands and their foals, Miniature Pigs, Harris, our Suffolk Punch horse, miniature, and Mammoth Donkeys are all waiting to meet you and your family when you visit us on the Dartmoor National Park.

Burrator Reservoir is situated within Dartmoor, and the tranquil water and surrounding mixed woodland contrast sharply with the open moor and the rugged Dartmoor tors. The reservoir is popular with walkers, cyclists, and horse riders due to its wealth of footpaths and bridleways. Many of the trails lead on to Dartmoor so it makes an ideal starting point for longer trips.