Devon

D

Dom

Well-Known Member
This summer I shall be staying for a week in Devon, and have there are rather a few zoos and wildlife parks around the area, and i've been told we can visit one. We've already been to Paighton, but i would like to see the new crocodile swamp. Newquay seems to have some intresting species that i've not seen before. As well as this theres, exmoor and dartmoor zoos.

So, i'd be most gratefull for your opinions and suggestions on what everyone else would do. Thanks

oh and we are most deffinetly visiting Living coasts so i'd be gratefull for opinins on that too!
 
paignton zoo is a must. although i haven't been there in years this has got to be the best collection in devon. newquay (being one of my favouritre zoos) also has a inetresting colletion lacking in the big draws but the rarities like paca, owstons palm civet and black wildebeast more than make up for this. Newquay is a really pleasant place and i highly advise, if you haven't been before and are interested in such animals then a trip to newquay is in order. even if it isn't in devon :D
 
Drummerzoobloke said:
This summer I shall be staying for a week in Devon, and have there are rather a few zoos and wildlife parks around the area, and i've been told we can visit one. We've already been to Paighton, but i would like to see the new crocodile swamp. Newquay seems to have some intresting species that i've not seen before. As well as this theres, exmoor and dartmoor zoos.

So, i'd be most gratefull for your opinions and suggestions on what everyone else would do. Thanks

oh and we are most deffinetly visiting Living coasts so i'd be gratefull for opinins on that too!
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I was very disappointed with the Croc swamp, but Paignton Zoo is excellent. Living coasts, was in my opinion a complete rip off, i'm just glad i went on my own and didn't take the whole family. Shaldon not far from Torbay, is a delightful place, but be warned it's very small so you will not be there long.(I wasn't at Living coasts much longer.) I also seemed to be there at feeding time which was inbetween 10.30 and 11am Newquay is a good zoo, but it's a bit of a drive from Devon. Dartmoor was ok, they have Bears, which none of the others have. If you are prepared to travel a bit, which going to Newquay suggests, you may want to go the other way and go to Monkey World, not far from Weymouth Which is another great place.
 
I really enjoyed my recent visit to Exmoor . None of the 'big draw' species e.g. lions , tigers , apes ( though they have gibbons) , or large herbivores . Nevertheless a fascinating collection of mammals , many birds including many unusual species and a small but good reptile/amphibian/invert. exhibit . Can strongly recommend it to a zoo enthusiast .
 
I did a work placement at Emoor Zoo. It's really worth a visit. I love it there. As Bele said they don't have any of the big draw animals but they do have the Gibbons as well as Black Leopard, Maned Wolves, Lemurs, Black Buck, Penguins and lots of smaller animals. An afternoon would allow you to cover the whole park. Really friendly keepers there, too. =]
 
Thanks to everyone who replied! Anyone else got any views on the croc swamp at paignton? I sounds good, but apparantly not? I'm still stuck between paignton and newquay, and its uncommon species im most intrested in. Cheers

Oh and i couldve sworn newquay was in Devon!! Ah well, havent done geography for 2 years!
 
It really depends on where you're staying in Devon! The travel from Paignton to Newquay is a good 2 hours, so unless you're staying much closer to the Devon/Cornwall border then Paignton might be best. We've been to Devon for the last 3 years with my little boy, and we've been to Shaldon, Living Coasts and Paignton (each year!). Shaldon, as stated already, is a lovely (but small) zoo. Had some interesting small mammals though and surprised me a bit! Living Coasts I really enjoyed as it was a completely fresh idea, never seen all those 'coastal' creatures in a zoo before. Paignton really does it for me though, every visit has never been the same. There is always something new to see and obviously you see some animals one year and not the next, so (personally) I don't get bored of 'repeating' zoos. There's always something you've never seen before. Like you, I'm looking forward this year to the new Crocodile Swamp, regardless of whether others have found it good or bad!

So, in summary, I'd say definately go to Paignton and if you have an afternoon free, then visit Living Coasts if you like that sort of thing, and Shaldon if you prefer small mammals and a friendly environment.
 
Paignton is by far the best, and Newquay is really nice with a great sort of feel to it. Living coasts is a bit pointless IMO. Shaldon is nice although the same size as Bristol's gorilla enclosure!
Dartmoor isn't worth the trek to be honest, loads of building work and a pretty small collection. The best part is the bears, but the rest is your average big cat collection in very average enclosures.
 
I quite often stop at a friends in Paignton and normally travel into Cornwall for the day and do Paradise Park Hayle,Newquay Bluereef Aquarium and Newquay Zoo within that day,have also dropped Hayle from the day and done Gweek to see the Hooded Seal instead,even with travelling between the place i have never felt i have rushed any of them!!!!
 
I quite enjoyed the Croc Swamp At Paignton. I wish more zoos would do similar exhibits. I spent hours in there watching and photographing the crocs - the wife got right browned off with me :o !
Tough call between Paignton and Newquay. They both have interesting species, although the crocs won it over for me.
 
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