Wetheriggs Zoo & Animal Sanctuary

Review of Wetheriggs Zoo & Animal Sanctuary

Posted on 25 Jun 2012 by CraigType of travel: Family

Ok. Let's be clear....this isn't Knowsley Safari Park or Chester Zoo. It's a small zoo with a varied range of animals. It's also £3.95 to get in.

The place itself is clean, tidy and the staff very friendly. The animals seem very happy and certainly pleased to see visitors. We visited on a Monday during term time and so it was quieter than weekends or holidays but by no means deserted and given that it's a short drive from Penrith that's no mean feat.

The animals range from domestic farm animals - cows, sheep, pigs, goats (including some new born) to llamas, rheas, donkeys, wallabies, emus and meerkats. The birds again from ducks and geese to cockatiels and parrots (including Gandalf who has a great personality and who will follow you round if he takes to you!). There are reptiles, spiders and bats too. All are in accessible enclosures with informative signage and there is feed available at reception to interact with the animals.

The area had really suffered with rain over the last few days and so some areas were muddy for walking but even so, it wasn't welly time.

There's a shop and a cafe. The shop is a bit random with its stock list but you can get free range eggs (and duck eggs too) plus locally made things as well as pocket money tat for the kids. The pottery is really nice. We had a brew in the cafe and some cake too.....proper three cup teapot and homemade cake for under a fiver.

In all we were hugely impressed. For value, Wetherigg gets 10/10. You can pay huge entrance fees for a well polished and marketed place and get ripped off at every turn or you can spend a smaller amount, accept what the place is and have a thoroughly good morning or afternoon out.