a girl kneels on grass, smiling while hugging a small brown and white goat with a blue harness

Activities

Animals

We have a huge variety of friendly farm animals for you to get acquainted with, from the Mighty to the Miniature!

Pennywell Miniature Pigs

three piglets with different colours standing in a grassy field surrounded by yellow daffodils
Pennywell Miniature Pigs
Pennywell Miniature Pigs
Pennywell Miniature Pigs
Pennywell Miniature Pigs

Pennywell Miniature Pigs

They have helped to make our Devon Farm Tousist Attraction internationally famous. Whether it's cuddling a piglet or cheering on your favourite in the pig racing, these little porkers never fail to delight. Call them miniature pigs, micro pigs or tea cup pigs, no visit to Pennywell is complete without a piggy cuddle. 

Goats & Goat Kids

Goats & Goat Kids
a young child smiles while feeding a goat in a barn setting, with straw scattered on the ground around them
a close-up of a young goat being held, with soft fur and large ears, set against a blurred barn background
Goats & Goat Kids
a young child in denim overalls gently holds a goat on a lead, standing on green grass in a sunny setting

Goats & Goat Kids

We have a huge range of Goat Breeds for you to meet and learn about. Giggle with the goats and kids in their purpose built goatarama. Hear the story of the Three Billy Goats Gruff while our little goats climb, play and 'trip trap' across their wooden bridge. Join in with our half hourly activities for the chance to Milk, Feed, and maybe even Walk a Goat!

Sheep & Lambs

A fluffy lamb with a light brown face and yellow ear tags stands in a grassy field, looking towards the camera.
a young girl in a purple skirt feeding a sheep in a sunny outdoor setting
Sheep & Lambs
Sheep & Lambs
close-up of a fluffy sheep sticking out its tongue, with a blurred landscape in the background

Sheep & Lambs

Meet our gorgeos Rams, Ewes and their Lambs around the farm. With a range of adorable breeds - from Valais Blacknose (coined the 'cutest sheep in the world'), to Whiteface Dartmoor - our sheep are eager to greet you!

Miniature Ponies

Miniature Ponies
A family poses outdoors with a small pony, smiling against a backdrop of green hills and blue sky.
A grey and white pony grazes on green grass under a clear blue sky, with another horse in the background.
a child gently strokes a small brown pony grazing on grass in a field with trees and a fence in the background
a young girl with blonde hair smiles beside a black and white pony in a field with a wooden fence in the background

Miniature Ponies

Meet our Miniature Ponies give them a cuddle! Wander into their outdoor paddocks and enjoy fantastic views of the Dart Valley while you get acquainted. You may be able to groom some of these lovely creatures in the Miniature Pony Centre on the Main Farmyard too!

Miniature Donkeys

Miniature Donkeys
a young girl smiles while hugging a grey donkey in a grassy field, with another donkey visible in the background
A child smiles while holding a brush next to a donkey, as a man in a red shirt interacts with them.
Miniature Donkeys
Miniature Donkeys

Miniature Donkeys

Originally from France this lovely little family have settled well at Pennywell. Meet pint sized mum and dad, Pedro and Diva with their daughters Poppy and Maggie. You can head into their paddock with them to give them cuddles and strokes - they love it!

Highland Cows

A close-up of a Highland cow with long, shaggy, light brown fur and a yellow ear tag, set against a green field.
Highland Cows
A Highland cow with long horns sits in a grassy field dotted with dandelions and yellow flowers.
A fluffy brown calf stands in a grassy field dotted with wildflowers, looking towards the camera.
Highland Cows

Highland Cows

Wave to our beautiful Highland cows and calves as you go past them in the fields on the Tractor & Trailer Ride. 

Alpacas

a close-up of a light brown alpaca with a curious expression, standing near a wooden fence, with another alpaca in the background
close-up of a light brown llama's head with a fluffy mane and large dark eye, set against a straw background
two llamas, one black and one white, standing outdoors with a wooden shed in the background under a blue sky
A brown alpaca stands on green grass, with a wooden fence and people in the background on a sunny day.
a man and a woman in red jackets hold piglets while interacting with an alpaca in a sunny farm setting

Alpacas

Tommy our toffee coloured alpaca was hand reared and is a social butterfly - whereas his chocolate coloured friend Tigger is more of a wall flower. Their younger friends Eric and Ernie (new to Pennywell in 2024), are the sweetest duo, and the four alpacas are the firmest friends.

Red Deer

a close-up of a young deer with large ears and a curious expression, with other deer blurred in the background
A woman and a child feed deer through a fence at a farm.
a doe gently nuzzles her spotted fawn in a sunny green field
a man in a white t-shirt feeding a deer through a fence, with another person in the background
A group of deer stands in a misty landscape, with rolling hills and trees in the background.

Red Deer

Meet our gorgeous and surprisinly tame herd of Red Deer in the Deer Park! You can attend our Meet The Deer activity to learn more about these amazing animals, and even hand feed them too - guaranteed to be one of your most memorable experiences at Pennywell Farm.

Heavy Horses

A boy in a red shirt stands beside a large white horse on a path surrounded by trees and blue sky.
A large white horse and a small brown pony grazing on grass, with trees and a cloudy sky in the background.
a black horse with a white face stands on grass, wearing a halter, with another horse in a blanket in the background
a child in a pink coat reaches out to touch two white horses in a stable, while an adult holds her from behind
A black horse adorned with ornate harness and decorations stands in a green landscape.

Heavy Horses

Meet Duchess & Delilah, our mighty Heavy Horses in the farmyard. Over the years we have had some incredible horses at Pennywell, all with interesting back stories - we even had Connery who was once one of Queen Elizabeth's horses!

Donkeys

two donkeys standing in a grassy field with yellow flowers, looking towards a black feeding bowl
three horses with distinctive markings, resting their heads over a wooden fence in a stable setting
A woman in a red t-shirt interacts with a black donkey and a white donkey in a green outdoor setting.
A child reaches out to gently touch the face of a grey donkey in a farm setting.
a donkey with a red harness stands in a crowd, with people in winter clothing blurred in the background

Donkeys

As well as our family of Miniature Donkeys, we have standard size donkeys for you to meet too! You'll get to see meet Mum Fern and her daughter's Teasel and Arabella, plus our newest recruits to the herd - Rodney, Wilma and Gladys. Our donkeys play a big part in our Nativity at Christmas time!

Pets: Rabbits, Guinea Pigs & Mice

a young girl cuddles a spotted rabbit, resting her head on it while wrapped in a purple blanket
a smiling child in a grey coat cuddles a guinea pig wrapped in a blue blanket
A boy smiles while holding a small white mouse in his palm against a dark background.
Pets: Rabbits, Guinea Pigs & Mice
Pets: Rabbits, Guinea Pigs & Mice

Pets: Rabbits, Guinea Pigs & Mice

A warm welcome awaits you from the small furry animals in our cosy pets area. Enjoy cuddles with friendly rabbits, guinea pigs & mice too!

Hedgehogs

Hedgehogs
two hedgehogs being held in gloved hands, one with dark spines and the other with light spines, blurred background
a young child smiles while gently petting a hedgehog wrapped in a pink towel
a smiling woman in gloves holds a small hedgehog close to her face in a warm indoor setting
Hedgehogs

Hedgehogs

Quite friendly rather than prickly, you can meet our African Pygmy hedgehogs and learn all about them during our scheduled activity.

Tortoises

Tortoises
a close-up of a tortoise eating a piece of lettuce, with its mouth open and visible tongue
a close-up of a tortoise resting on grass, with its head slightly protruding from its shell
A tortoise eating a piece of food, surrounded by grapes and broccoli on the ground.
a tortoise walking on green grass, showing its textured shell and head with distinctive markings

Tortoises

Pennywell has taken in tortoises from owners who can no longer look after them. They are enjoying their Devon retirement on the farm and taking life at a slower pace! 

Ferrets

A person in a yellow glove holds a light-coloured ferret with a curious expression.
A young boy smiles at a person holding a ferret, with birthday badges on his clothing.
a ferret peeking out of a brown pipe, with green grass in the background
a young woman excitedly interacts with a ferret held by a person, with a crowd in the background at a farm setting
A woman in a red sweatshirt holds a ferret while speaking to an audience at an outdoor event.

Ferrets

Meet our mischievous ferrets, learn all about them, and cheer them on in their daily race! With speedy teams like Thunder, Lightning & Flash and Snap, Crackle & Pop, it’s a race to the finish every time – but who will win during your visit?

FAQ’s

You’ll meet a huge variety of friendly animals, from cuddly rabbits and goats to miniature donkeys, Highland cattle, tortoises, alpacas, and of course, the world-famous Pennywell Miniature Pigs.

Yes. Cuddling a piglet is one of Pennywell’s most popular activities. Our miniature pigs are gentle, sociable, and love a lap snuggle. Bring your own small blanket or buy one in the shop to join in. Please note that when our piglets are very young, they may only be able to be held by adults or older children. Little ones can of course still say interact with them on a parent's lap!

They’re a unique breed developed here at Pennywell. They’re smaller than standard pigs, full of personality, and have helped put Pennywell Farm on the map. Whether it’s a cuddle or a front-row seat at pig racing, they’re a huge part of the experience.

Yes. Visitors can bottle feed goat kids at certain times of the day.

Children can cuddle rabbits, guinea pigs, mice, and piglets in our cosy pets area. All interactions are supervised by our experienced team to ensure both children and animals are comfortable. Please note that when our piglets are very young, they may only be able to be held by adults or older children. Little ones can of course still say interact with them on a parent's lap! This also may be the case if we have baby pets.

Yes. All our animals are chosen and raised for their gentle, approachable nature. They’re well-socialised and used to meeting visitors of all ages.

Absolutely. You’ll find Pedro, Diva, and Poppy in their own paddock. They’re a visitor favourite and love a gentle fuss.

Yes. We have miniature ponies you can meet, groom, and even pamper in our Miniature Pony Centre. They’re calm, affectionate, and perfect for hands-on interaction.

Our goats have their own custom Goatarama with bridges, climbing platforms, and lots of space to play. You can meet them, feed them, and even hear the story of the Three Billy Goats Gruff while they trip-trap across their bridge.

You can wave to our Highland cows and calves as you pass them on the tractor and trailer ride. They’re iconic, long-haired, and very photogenic.

Yes, animal welfare is at the heart of everything we do. Our team provides expert care, enrichment, and daily checks to ensure all animals are healthy, happy, and safe.

We’re proud to offer a safe and loving home to a number of rescue and rehomed animals here at the farm. Whether they’ve come from difficult backgrounds or simply needed a new place to call home, we provide them with expert care, enrichment, and plenty of attention. It’s a joy to see them thrive as part of the Pennywell family.

Yes. Many of our animals enjoy hand-feeding sessions with food provided by our team. It’s a gentle and memorable experience for children and adults alike.