Home to a community of Benedictine monks, Buckfast Abbey lies on the banks of the River Dart. Here, we soak up the peaceful atmosphere and explore the beautiful Abbey church with its art treasures. There’s also time to wander the tranquil gardens and browse the gift and produce shops.
We then travel to the outside the southern edge of Dartmoor National Park, Buckfast Butterfly Farm and Dartmoor Otter Sanctuary where we can see the beautiful collection of tropical butterflies and learn about their amazing life cycle in their specially designed rainforest habitat. Wander around the otter sanctuary, home to three species of otter: the native British otter, the Asian short-clawed otter and the large North American river otter.
Our trip then takes us to Buckfast station where we experience a nostalgic journey on the award-winning South Devon Railway. Built in 1872 and initially known as the Dart Valley Railway, this line is the longest established steam railway in the south west. On this special train journey we take in some of Devon’s most picturesque countryside along the stunning valley of the River Dart.