13 of the best ways for kids to meet animals in Somerset

Get up close to gorgeous beasts.

It’s a fact: Kids love animals. From alpacas and deer to swans, lambs and goats, Somerset is awash with glorious furry things that the little ones can spot, pet and fall in love with. Here’s our take on the best 14 animal experiences for kids in Somerset.

1. Meet Somerset’s resident feral goats

As you wind your way down the road towards Burrington Combe get the kids to keep looking up. The craggy limestone gorge is home to many white goats who freely hop and skip their way across the rocks. There’s an opportunity to pull over in a car park and watch them as they scamper about, showing off their fearless nature near dramatic drops.

If your kids are good walkers (and not too afraid of heights), there are several footpaths which will take you up high for a different view of Somerset altogether. There’s some quirkily named places here too, including Elephant’s Hole, Toad’s Hole and Rock of Ages. In fact, folklore has it that the hymn, Rock of Ages, was written here by Reverend Augustus Toplady while sheltering from a storm.

Oh, and then there’s Aveline’s Hole, a Stone Age cave which housed over 50 skeletons dating from more than 10,000 years ago, making it the oldest ‘cemetery’ in Britain.

2. Watch swans ring the Palace bell

Once upon a time, the daughter of the Bishop of Bath & Wells was bored. It was the 1800s. There were no smart phones in those days. So, she rigged up a bell which was attached to a piece of string and began teaching the swans a trick. Every time the swans pulled the string, the bell would ring in the gatehouse, and she would reward them with some food.

It is a tradition which has continued to this very day.

The current pair of mute swans who nest along the moat of The Bishop’s Palace are named Gabriel and Grace. The cob, Gabriel, is now the teacher, showing his cygnets how to ring the bells for food so they are well fed before they fly the nest in late Winter/early Spring.

You’re welcome to watch the swans on the moat free of charge. The Bishop’s Palace has also set up a Swan Cam so that you can watch Gabriel and Grace from your home.

3. Adopt an animal at Chew Valley

Chew Valley Animal Park cares for a wide range of animals and have thought about a solution for those kids who really, really want a pig, a porcupine or a skunk.

Adopting an animal is a great gift and your child’s name will be placed outside their chosen animal’s enclosure for the year. They’ll also receive an adoption certificate, mini fact file and a bonus day pass to come and visit their animal again. There are a whole host of animals to choose from. Will it be an alpaca, emu, raccoon, red fox, or arctic fox? The list goes on.

A visit to the park includes hands on cuddles with rabbits, mice and guinea pigs – and the rangers even claim that the rats will fall asleep on your shoulder, if you dare. The animal keepers are on hand to talk about the challenges that face our wildlife in the UK and are keen to promote conservation with the kids too.

4. Meet Ferne’s ferrets

With servicemen and women having no choice but to abandon their pets as they left home to fight in the Second World War, the Duchess of Hamilton set about rehoming all the animals at her newly created Ferne Animal Sanctuary. By collecting animals from London and rehoming them in the countryside, the Duchess could offer a warm and comfortable home for hundreds of pets.

Today, more than 80 years later, her Sanctuary welcomes visitors to see the current residents. These include horses, donkeys and farm animals, as well as rabbits, guinea pigs, ferrets, chinchillas, poultry and an aviary filled with birds.

Every year Ferne rescues, rehabilitates and re-homes over 500 animals which means it has rehomed more than 40,000 animals since it was founded.

5. Meet, greet and groom the donkeys

Willow Vale Animal Experiences invites you to explore its 10-acres. In doing so, you’ll meet its resident animals. It’s a relaxing environment as the experiences are done on a one-to-one or small group basis (to ensure the animals don’t get over tired) and the natural surroundings are just stunningly beautiful. With a stream running through the fields and a wildlife haven found around the natural pond, you are also invited to bring along a picnic and take your time to enjoy the rural country smallholding at your leisure.

The donkeys love to be groomed so be sure to request this interactive experience as part of your tailor-made package.

Perhaps you’d like to take one of the animals for a walk? With donkeys, alpacas and even the goats up for wearing a lead, you can choose your favourite and head out into the fields for a little stroll. It’s also worth knowing that the goats love to show off their agility and are happy to be led around the obstacle course too.

6. Visit a massive heronry

Hosting the largest heronry in the South West, RSPB Swell Wood offers you and the kids a cinematic view of these majestic birds. With reclined benches and a breath-taking widescreen open front, the hide frames Swell Wood’s natural spectacle in blockbuster glory.

The leaf-less trees in March make the spring a great time to visit the heronry because you’ll be able to see the herons perched up high in the treetops. They tend to arrive back here in January to find their ideal nesting position before they begin looking for a mate. Once they’ve paired up, they can lay up to five eggs; you can spot the parents taking it in turns to sit on them.

Once you’ve observed the birds, why not stretch your legs around the reserve. Pick up the Woodland Trail and you’ll also be able to catch sight of the cranes too. If you want to extend your nature observations then wander along to Fivehead Meadow where you’ll be able to spot grasshoppers, crickets and dragonflies (in the Summer at least) and see the Swallows swooping overhead.

7. See Great Whites (no, not those ones)

Due to its very nature, the Somerset Levels is home to vast wetland areas which makes it the ideal place for kids to learn about our native birds. RSPB looks after the Ham Wall Nature Reserve and runs loads of workshops and events to entertain the kids. It’s a year-round destination and every visit will bring something new depending on which birds are nesting or visiting in each season.

The Great White Egret is a funny character to see. Standing at more than one metre, they are easy for the kids to spot and can be entertaining to watch.

To burn off some energy you can follow one of the RSPB trails which will take you on pathways through the reed beds in amongst the watery worlds. The paths are all easy access so great for buggies, scooters and cycles too. The bigger kids will enjoy cycling the Bittern Trail too.

The nature charity also run events such as its popular PJ Party where the kids turn up in the early evening, take part in quiz-type activities, listen to stories and then enjoy toasting marshmallows around a camp fire while guzzling hot chocolate.

8. Go horse riding on Exmoor

Exmoor is blessed with countless bridleways which gives you the perfect opportunity to hop in the saddle and try pony-trekking. This region is home to the rare ‘Exmoor Pony’ breed. These quiet souls are often found roaming the moorlands. Known as the oldest breed of native pony in the UK, the ponies are an iconic character linked to these Somerset lands. They are even mentioned in the Domesday book of 1086.

For pony rides, pony grooming and pony-based crafts and games, your best bet is to head to Moorland Mousie Trust. Riding hats are provided, and all riders over the age of four are very welcome.

9. See butterflies at Goblin Combe

With a name like Goblin Combe, it’s easy to get carried away by Somerset folklore and legend. But there’s also a lot of rare flora and fauna to discover here too.

Goblin Combe was created during the last ice age when the melting snow carved the gorge into the limestone creating a combination of airy grasslands and deep woodland. As such, it makes a great place for wildlife spotting; the area has been recognised for having a thriving dormouse population as well as over 30 different species of butterfly. Bring along those magnifying glasses and your camera to see if you can identify and take snaps of Brown Argus, Green Hairstreek and Grizzled Skippers.

And as for those fairy tales, we’re turning the clock back to the days when children would head out together to pick primroses. “On this particular day a little girl wandered away from her friends and found herself alone at Goblin Combe. On realising that she was all alone she sobbed and sobbed and out of exhaustion rested against a rock. Suddenly, the rock opens up and she is surrounded by fairies. The fairies see that she is carrying primroses and gift her a golden ball and lead her back to her home. The whole village is astounded, and the local conjurer decided that he too wants a golden ball, so off he sets with primroses in his hand to Goblin Combe. What he didn’t realise was that it wasn’t the right day, or the right number of primroses in his hand so the fairies take him into the Combe, never to be seen again.”

10. Go trekking with alpacas

Did you know that alpacas are part of the camelid family? When you book on an alpaca trek you’ll learn a little about them, where they come from and what they have been bred for. Then the fun really starts because the team at Somerset Alpacas will match you up with an alpaca of a similar character. Yes, it seems that alpacas are quite particular about which human will walk by their side with some point-blank refusing to walk with some people (which will no doubt raise some chuckles within your group). Some alpacas love a kiss, and others, quite simply, prefer to walk with a lady by their side.

Once you’ve been paired up, you’ll go for a good walk around the fields where you can take photos and have plenty of cuddles.

After the alpacas have been returned to their field it’s time to meet the rare breed sheep and chickens who are equally fond of cuddles. Some chickens have been known to fall asleep in visitors’ arms and even ‘purr’. Be sure to take a look at the array of rainbow-coloured eggs before you head off to meet the rare breed of pigs too.

11. Go on a Somerset safari

Exmoor, the hidden gem of Somerset, unless you’re in the know of course. And that’s exactly what the safari teams are – they are in the know when it comes to the whereabouts of Somerset’s most elusive and exclusive wildlife.

You can book morning, afternoon, or evening safaris and depending on where you are staying the Red Stag Safari team will often collect you from your hotel/home.

Time your visit right and you’ll be blessed with sightings of the red stags rutting, you’ll be able to hear their renowned bellowing (known as ‘bolving’). Other key sightings of the quiet Exmoor ponies as well as birds of prey and moorland birds are all worthy of a trip out as you access areas of Exmoor which are not normally open to the general public.

Key essentials have to be binoculars, a camera and a little bit of patience as you sit quietly and observe. The thrill of being up and close to Somerset’s wildlife is like no other and a day the kids definitely won’t forget.

Your guides on the safari are incredibly knowledgeable with local knowledge and history of the area. They’ll also be able to keep book worms happy as they take you to areas which are featured in bestselling novels.

12. Spot Exmoor’s iconic deer

Heading out on the moors during the Autumn is your best chance of capturing a glimpse of Exmoor’s majestic deer. Take a backpack loaded with a picnic, flask of hot chocolate and all-important binoculars, and find a semi-covered place to lay out your blanket.

If you sit quietly and prick your ears up, you should be able to hear the male red deer roaring, or ‘bolving’ as it’s called. This sound is the stag announcing his superiority – he wants to ward off other stags while simultaneously attracting the female hinds.

Once you’ve heard the stag bolving, maybe you could give it a go? Who can make the most realistic deer impression?

13. See a murmuration of starlings at sunset

It’s absolutely spell-binding. The rush of wings is audible, as thousands upon thousands of starlings twirl and whirl around the skies, all in complete unison.

The Somerset Levels play host to these birds every winter, from November until March, and the spectacle certainly keeps the local birdwatchers and photographers very happy.

With the Avalon Marshes being a favourite spot, the area can be flooded with visitors so it’s best to avoid weekends and try and head out to RSPB Ham Wall during the week or even first thing in the morning when the starlings set off for the day.

For chance encounters at sunset you’ll want to find an elevated position to watch and wait. Glastonbury Tor, Burrow Mump and the viewing area at Walton Hill are all good spots to sit with your binoculars to tune in to nature’s very own TV show. Even if you don’t see a murmuration, you’re guaranteed a spectacular view none the less.