Donkey Sanctuary Maze

A maze dedicated entirely to donkeys sounds either brilliant or deeply odd, depending on your outlook. The Donkey Sanctuary Maze near Sidmouth is genuinely both - a working sanctuary that doubles as a proper labyrinth you can actually get lost in whilst learning about the animals themselves.

Once you've paid admission and picked up a map (or stubbornly refused it), you're threading through hedgerows with actual donkeys grazing nearby. The whole point is educational - you're not just wandering aimlessly, you're picking up facts about donkey welfare and rescue work as you navigate to the centre and back out again. Kids enjoy spotting the animals between the hedges. Adults find it a bit more satisfying than your average garden maze because there's genuine purpose underneath the hedge-based confusion.

Allow a good hour if you're with children who'll want to linger by the animals and read every information board. Solo adults or keen walkers can do it in half that if they're moving with purpose. The ground can be muddy after rain, so appropriate footwear matters.

It pairs well with Cuckoo Down Farm Glamping just five miles away - the proximity makes it a solid morning activity before heading back for lunch. Sidmouth itself offers beaches and the coastal path if you want something different in the afternoon. The sanctuary isn't a full day's entertainment on its own, but as part of a broader Devon park holiday it's worth the detour, particularly if anyone in your group has strong feelings about donkeys.