Animals & Wildlife

If you love animals and wildlife then Devon’s English Riviera has a host of attractions just for you.  There are lots of places to explore that will create wonderful memories to take home.

Paignton Zoo Environmental Park

Paignton Zoo is a world-class wildlife conservation park set in beautiful and extensive gardens with large lakes.  The park is home to some of the planet’s most rare and amazing creatures. Discover all your favourites, including gorillas and orang-utans, giraffes, lions, tigers and rhinos plus some more unusual species. A must-see is the Crocodile Swamp. Here, amid the lush tropical foliage and steamy atmosphere, you’ll come face-to-face with huge crocodiles plus large snakes, turtles and fish. Then there’s Amphibian Ark, the Avian Breeding Centre and Monkey Heights.   Paignton Zoo is a registered charity working on worldwide conservation projects.

Berry Head National Nature Reserve

Guarding the southern edge of Devon’s English Riviera, Berry Head National Nature Reserve, is a famous hotspot for thousands of local and migrating birds. Perched high up on 200 feet (60 metre) cliffs, this beautiful headland is surrounded by water on 3 sides and has some of Devon’s most breathtaking views. You can enjoy a pleasant walk up to the site from Brixham or drive up to the visitor car park. The high cliffs are home to the largest breeding colonies of guillemots on the south coast of England and these are Berry Head’s most famous residents.  You can often see dolphins and porpoises just off the headland.

Occombe  Farm

Occombe Farm – Family Fun, Animals and Adventure in the Heart of the English Riviera.
Discover Occombe Farm, a unique all-weather family attraction near Paignton. Kids can explore the imaginative indoor Play Barn, where outdoor adventure comes indoors – complete with cliff climbs, shipwrecks and giant shells. Outside, there’s a giant straw bale maze, mini tractors and a messy kitchen for creative fun.
Meet friendly animals in the Animal Encounters Barn – including goats, bunnies, ponies and Guinea pigs – with daily cuddle sessions. Follow a self-guided trail through paddocks to spot donkeys, sheep, ducks and more.
Refuel in the Occombe Farm Café with tasty farm-style meals and treats. Every visit supports the conservation work of our parent charity, Torbay Coast & Countryside Trust.  Fun, play, animals, and nature – all in one place!

Marine Wildlife

Devon’s English Riviera has an amazing range of marine life and the whole area is protected under the Torbay Marine Conservation Zone. Fascinating marine creatures such as the long snouted seahorse, Devonshire cup coral, sponges, anemones, sea squirts and the native oyster all live here.  Rock pooling is a great activity for the whole family with captivating crabs, awesome anemones, peaceful prawns and sassy starfish to spot.  Goodrington Sands, Meadfoot Beach, Corbyn Head and Shoalstone are all top spots - Goodrington Sands has been rated in the top ten places to rockpool in the country.  Look out for bottlenose dolphins, harbour porpoises, grey seals and basking sharks that can often be seen near the beaches, in the harbours or off the headlands.