Overview

The Donkey Sanctuary is a charity which looks after abandoned and neglected donkeys. The centre is open daily for visitors to see the donkeys. There is also a brand new step free visitors' centre (I visited 2018) with restaurant and shop. Most of the paths are wheelchair accessible.

Transport & Parking

In the summer season the Sidmouth Hopper Bus stops in the car park just by the entrance. Where you get off the bus is a board telling you the times the bus stops there and there is regular buses throughout the day. The hopper bus is step free and has a space for a wheelchair user. There is a public car park next to the visitors' centre which had designated disabled parking spaces.

Access

The sanctuary is in the middle of the countryside and covers a large site. Most of the site is outdoors. There’s hundreds of donkeys to see, some close up and some at a distance, depending on whether or not the donkeys wants to have some human company. Some of the donkeys are grouped together in a field such as the youngsters, the oldies and the blind donkeys. Much of the site including the main facilities area is level, paths are firm and wide plus there’s lots of benches to sit on but there are a few steep slopes. The new visitors' centre is step free. On the ground floor is the reception area and café. There is a platform lift to the shop, exhibition display and accessible toilets. There are various discovery areas or information boards throughout the site where you can find out more about the donkeys and how they are cared for and there is an outdoor play area. There is a mobility scooter and some manual wheelchairs for hire, which they recommend you to book in advance.

Toilets

There are accessible toilets, these are spacious with grab rails and emergency cord. Toilets were clean. There is no changing places toilet.

Staff

Staff were extremely helpful and friendly. In the visitors' centre I asked for help regarding accessible routes and I was given a map and lots of suggestions. There were staff walking around the site and every time they passed me they said hello. Staff were also delivering talks about the donkeys and their care throughout the day.

Anything else you wish to tell us?

The sanctuary is free admission, however as they are a charity they would appreciate any donations. The welfare of the donkeys are their main concern and the public can’t feed them. Well worth visiting.

Photos