I didn't count them, but didn't seem too badly off. I can't recommend Living Coasts highly enough for the sheer amount of sea birds, most of which are very rare. My favourites were the tufted puffins
Quite - it is certainly on my to-visit list, but if I'm going all the way down to the southwest I'd be prioritising Paignton and Newquay so not sure I'd even get it done then.
Quite - it is certainly on my to-visit list, but if I'm going all the way down to the southwest I'd be prioritising Paignton and Newquay so not sure I'd even get it done then.
I would say even using trains, you could do Paignton and Living Coasts in day. If you go in the summer with the longer opening hours, you could do these on day one and Newquay on day 2 [I assume you'd be stopping down there?].
I wouldn't imagine that a taxi would be too expensive between the two places if split between you, I think it's a 15-30 minute drive depending on traffic?
I agree with both points made here, the puffins were fantastic if a litttle lacking in action on my visit!
It's also got great views over Torbay and the bird collection is fantastic, lots of species that you won't find anywhere else in the UK... And this is coming from a self confessed mammal lover!
I would say even using trains, you could do Paignton and Living Coasts in day. If you go in the summer with the longer opening hours, you could do these on day one and Newquay on day 2 [I assume you'd be stopping down there?].
I wouldn't imagine that a taxi would be too expensive between the two places if split between you, I think it's a 15-30 minute drive depending on traffic?
For a first time visit and using public transport I would personally do both on seperate days as Living Coasts and Paignton Zoo are both a fair distance away from their respective train stations and winter opening times are a lot shorter. Paignton deserves the best part of a full day in my opinion and Living Coasts took me nearly 2 hours to get round as I was intrigued by pretty much everything in the aviary.
If Dave does want to do both in one day then your suggestion of a taxi is probably the best option time-wise but Torbay taxis seem to cost more than up north in my experience.
Quite - it is certainly on my to-visit list, but if I'm going all the way down to the southwest I'd be prioritising Paignton and Newquay so not sure I'd even get it done then.
I agree with both points made here, the puffins were fantastic if a litttle lacking in action on my visit!
It's also got great views over Torbay and the bird collection is fantastic, lots of species that you won't find anywhere else in the UK... And this is coming from a self confessed mammal lover!
For a first time visit and using public transport I would personally do both on seperate days as Living Coasts and Paignton Zoo are both a fair distance away from their respective train stations and winter opening times are a lot shorter. Paignton deserves the best part of a full day in my opinion and Living Coasts took me nearly 2 hours to get round as I was intrigued by pretty much everything in the aviary.
If Dave does want to do both in one day then your suggestion of a taxi is probably the best option time-wise but Torbay taxis seem to cost more than up north in my experience.
I seriously hope you manage to get there, it's well worth the time and effort!
Obviously, since my last post in this thread my plans have solidified a lot, being as I now have a southwest visit planned!
My planned itinerary is:
Sat 26th Jan - Get train down to Newton Abbot
Sun 27th Jan - Get train to Paignton, do Paignton Zoo (doing this as Paignton will be the easiest one to reach by train on a Sunday)
Mon 28th Jan - Get train to Barnstable, then a bus to Exmoor Zoo
Tues 29th Jan - Get train to Newquay, do Newquay Zoo. If see everything there with time to spare, do Bluereef Newquay too.
(these two days are potentially swappable, depending on weather conditions and how they may affect trains and/or buses. If inclement conditions rule out Exmoor entirely, I plan to do Paradise Park in Hayle instead. If inclement conditions rule out Newquay - and thus Hayle - will do extra Paignton days)
Weds 30th Jan - in morning, get train to Torquay and do Living Coasts. In afternoon, time permitting, get train to Teignmouth and do Shaldon. In late afternoon, get train home.
Obviously, since my last post in this thread my plans have solidified a lot, being as I now have a southwest visit planned!
My planned itinerary is:
Sat 26th Jan - Get train down to Newton Abbot
Sun 27th Jan - Get train to Paignton, do Paignton Zoo (doing this as Paignton will be the easiest one to reach by train on a Sunday)
Mon 28th Jan - Get train to Barnstable, then a bus to Exmoor Zoo
Tues 29th Jan - Get train to Newquay, do Newquay Zoo. If see everything there with time to spare, do Bluereef Newquay too.
(these two days are potentially swappable, depending on weather conditions and how they may affect trains and/or buses. If inclement conditions rule out Exmoor entirely, I plan to do Paradise Park in Hayle instead. If inclement conditions rule out Newquay - and thus Hayle - will do extra Paignton days)
Weds 30th Jan - in morning, get train to Torquay and do Living Coasts. In afternoon, time permitting, get train to Teignmouth and do Shaldon. In late afternoon, get train home.
You seem extremely well organised, Living Coasts and Shaldon are much easier to do on the same day as both are small and neither should take more than 2 hours to get around! I don't know how easy it is to access Shaldon by public transport though as on my only visit I travelled by car.
I'm quite surprised to see Paradise Park as a possibility as it is predominantly birds, parrots as a speciality. I would've thought that Devon Wildlife Hospital (rehabilitating minks, foxes etc) or Axe Valley (tree porcupines, raccoon dogs) would've been more up your street...
Your major problem could well be the weather though, you know what trains can be like with a bit of snow on the ground!
