Marshwood, West Dorset (not far from Lyme Regis/Crewkerne/Bridport/Beaminster)
School hols: open Monday – Saturday
Term-time open Mon- Sat EXCEPT Wednesdays
Foxdown Farm – what a great little place to visit with younger children! Foxdown is a small, family-run children’s farm where you can meet plenty of friendly animals (think ponies, donkeys, ducks, chickens, turkeys, cheeky goats, sheep, cows, pigs and a whole lot of small and fluffies – guinea pigs and rabbits) without the big attraction price tag (Pennywell Farm, I’m looking at you!)
For your £7.50 entry (Under 2s go free), visitors can roam the small but lovely paddocks and barn freely and take part in the twice-daily small animal handling sessions (usually around midday and 2.30pm), play in the playground, kick a football around on the green, and make use of various toy stations and tuff trays set up with preschoolers and younger kids in mind. You can buy certain animal feed in the shop if you’d like to have a go at feeding some of the larger animals. No need to pre-book – just rock up at a time to suit.
Or, for a more involved experience, book on to one of the Guided Tours at £15 pp on a Saturday or selected days on Bank Hols & in school holidays which includes a thorough tour of the farm, grooming the ponies or goats, animal feeding and lots of info about the running of the farm. These sessions must be pre-booked and start at 10.30am.
I did wonder if my two kids aged 8&10 would be a bit old for Foxdown as it is really well set up for younger kids – probably ideal age from toddler to around age 7 – but we spent a really nice hour or so just meeting all the residents and the clear highlight which made it especially worth it was half an hour spent in the barn handling all the fluffies. Two lovely staff members brought various floofs to my daughters’ laps and told them a bit about what they liked and disliked while my girls got to feed their pets celery and brush their fur. A very cute experience and as it was a quiet session the girls got the full half an hour with something on their lap. As a family without any pets, they really were delighted.
There’s a small gift shop and café providing toasties, cakes, ice cream and drinks, and toilet facilities. The site is buggy friendly but the outdoor area is a grassy field so bring wellies if it’s been wet. Picnics are allowed and there’s plenty of outdoor seating.
Local or visiting in term time? Check out Foxdown Cubs parent & toddler sessions on Tuesdays and Fridays, 10-2pm.
You can also be a ‘Farmer for a Day’ or host your child’s birthday party at Foxdown- more information online.
A really easy and low-key but lovely few hours out for families with younger children, with a family-run feel.
