Combe Martin Wildlife and Dinosaur Park – Big Animals, Big Dinosaurs, Big Fun!

The Combe Martin Wildlife and Dinosaur Park sits in a valley in North Devon. It covers 28 acres. The area is part of the North Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The park has animals from today and models of dinosaurs from long ago. It mixes wildlife with old creatures. People can see live animals and fake dinosaurs that move. The park is family-run. It has been open for more than 30 years.

This park is in Combe Martin village. The village is near Ilfracombe. The park is on steep land. Paths go up and down hills. Gardens grow there with subtropical plants. Waterfalls run through parts of it. The park opened in the late 1980s. It started as a place for wildlife. Later, it added dinosaurs. Now, it has both. The park joins groups like BIAZA. BIAZA helps zoos and parks care for animals.

The Park’s Story

The park began as a wildlife spot. It grew over time. In the 1990s, it added dinosaur models. These models are life-size. Some move. The park sits in a deep valley. This makes it feel like a hidden world. The land is natural. It has streams and trees. The family that owns it keeps it running. They add new things each year.

In 2025, the park added more moving dinosaurs. This keeps it fresh. The park faced problems too. In 2024, a storm hit. It damaged parts. A landslip closed a nearby road in December 2024. The road is the A399. It leads to the park. Workers fixed it with lights. Also in 2024, thieves broke in. They took money from charity boxes. Police asked for help to find them.

The park is part of local life. It joins events like BioBlitz. This counts wild things on site. In 2025, BioBlitz runs from August 25 to 31. Staff and guests look for plants and bugs. This helps learn about nature.

Animals at the Park

The park has many animals. They come from different places. Staff care for them. They give talks about the animals. Visitors can learn facts. The animals live in enclosures. Some enclosures are small. Others let animals move more. Here are some animals you can see.

Big Cats

Amur leopards live here. Amur leopards come from Russia and China. They have spots. Their fur is thick for cold weather. In the wild, they hunt deer and boars. At the park, they get fed meat. Leopards like to climb. Their enclosure has trees. But some say it is small. Amur leopards are rare. Only about 100 live in the wild. Parks like this help breed them.

Wolves

Grey wolves and Hudson Bay wolves are here. Grey wolves are from many places. They live in packs. Packs hunt together. Hudson Bay wolves are white. They come from cold areas in Canada. Wolves howl to talk. At the park, you can hear them. Visitors can feed wolves in special events. But enclosures look old to some people.

Wolves eat meat. They get bones too. This keeps teeth clean. In the wild, wolves run far. They need space. The park tries to give them room. But hills make it hard to see all animals.

Sea Lions and Seals

Sea lions swim in pools. They do shows. In shows, they jump and clap. Trainers use fish to teach tricks. This is positive training. No punishment. Sea lions come from oceans. They eat fish. Harbour seals are here too. Seals have spots. They rest on rocks.

Pools are clean. But one review said a new pool is being built. Visitors can swim with sea lions. This costs extra. You must book it. Sea lions are smart. They solve puzzles.

Primates

Primates mean monkeys and apes. Gibbons swing on ropes. They have long arms. Gibbons sing loud songs. Lemurs are here. Ring-tailed lemurs have black and white tails. They sniff food to check it. Lemurs come from Madagascar. They eat fruit and leaves.

Meerkats dig holes. They stand tall to watch. Meerkats live in groups. They take turns guarding. At the park, you can see them close. Some enclosures have glass. This lets you watch without bars.

Birds

Penguins waddle on land. They swim fast. Penguins eat fish. The park has Humboldt penguins. They come from South America. Birds like parrots are colorful. One photo shows a red parrot. Parrots talk. They copy sounds.

Other birds fly in big areas. But some cages look dirty in reviews. The park has exotic birds. They have bright feathers.

Other Animals

Reptiles live in warm houses. Snakes and lizards are there. Goats walk in pet areas. Kids can touch them. Raccoons are new to some. They wash food.

All animals get vet checks. Staff train them for health. This helps without stress. The park follows rules for animal care.

Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Parts

Dinosaurs died out long ago. But the park has models. Over 30 kinds. Some stand still. Others move. They roar and swing tails. The T-Rex is big. It wakes up each hour. Its mouth opens wide. Teeth are sharp.

Dilophosaurus spits water. Stand close and get wet. This is fun for kids. Megalosaurus moves too. It looks scary. In 2025, new ones came. Gasosaurus is one. It has gas in its name but no real gas. Velociraptor is fast. It has claws. These are animatronic. Motors make them move.

The park has over 700 dinosaur types known. But only 19 models here. The park is not big enough for all. Models teach about old times.

Dinosaur Museum

The museum shows real fossils. An Allosaurus skeleton stands tall. Allosaurus hunted meat. It lived 150 million years ago. A big nest of eggs is there. Eggs are stone now. Footprints too. These show how dinosaurs walked.

Visitors learn facts. Dinosaurs ruled Earth for millions of years. Then a rock from space hit. Most died.

Dino Express

This is a train ride. It goes through dinosaur land. Water splashes. Seven thousand gallons come fast. People scream. The train is safe. It is for all ages.

Tomb of Pharaohs

This is underground. It looks like Egypt. Mummies pop out. Scarabs are big bugs. They move. It gives facts about old Egypt. But watch for jumps.

These parts mix fun with learning. Models are not real. But they look like dinosaurs from science.

Things to Do and See

The park has shows. Sea lions perform daily. They balance balls. Trainers talk about ocean life. Animal talks happen too. Learn about wolves or leopards.

Special events cost more. Eat breakfast with big cats. Or feed wolves. Swim with sea lions. Book these early.

Play areas are big. Dinosaurus Playzone is inside. Soft floors for jumps. Slides and balls. New in 2025, a covered spot for under 5s. It has small toys.

Walk paths to see all. Maps help. Some paths are steep. Take breaks.

Events change. In Halloween, pumpkins hide. Staff dress up. Decorations scare a bit. In half-term, more fun.

The park has shops. Buy toys. Eat at cafes. Food is simple. Burgers and drinks.

How the Park Helps Animals

The park joins BIAZA. This group sets rules for good care. Parks share knowledge. They breed rare animals. Amur leopards need help. Parks like this keep them safe.

Staff train animals kind. No force. This makes check-ups easy. Animals stay calm.

The park counts wild life on site. Bugs and plants. This helps nature. Gardens grow local plants. This feeds birds and bees.

Money from visits helps animals. But in 2024, thieves took charity cash. This hurt.

Reviews say animals look healthy. They act normal. Staff know a lot.

Planning Your Visit

The park opens April to November. In 2025, from April 5 to November 2. Hours are 10 AM to 5 PM. Last entry at 3 PM.

Tickets cost different. Adults pay more. Kids less. Under 3 free. Wheelchair users free. Carers get low price. Local people get deals. EX postcodes pay £10 first, then £1. Tickets let you return in 7 days.

Buy online or at gate. Season passes for many visits.

Get there by car. A399 road. Parking free. But small. Cars can hit. Use accessible lot if needed.

Inside, wear good shoes. Hills are steep. Paths uneven. Wheelchairs hard in spots. Ask staff for easy ways. Baby carriers free to borrow.

For small kids, plan slow. Steep for buggies. Drop off close.

Weather matters. Some outside. Playzone inside for rain.

Best time: Early morning. Less busy. See feeds.

If mobility hard, call first. They help.

What Visitors Say

Many like the park. Families go often. Kids love dinosaurs. Moving ones thrill. Animals are close. Sea lion shows fun. Staff nice. Talks teach.

Some say value good. With returns, more time. New things in 2025 help.

But not all happy. Park looks old. Dinosaurs worn. Enclosures small. Birds dirty. Toilets need fix. Hills tire people. Busy in holidays. Parking bad.

In 2024, storm hurt. Half price then. Some felt sorry for animals. But others saw care.

Ratings mix. Many 4 or 5 stars. Some 3 or 1. Changes come slow.

One visitor said dinosaurs tatty. But kids did not mind. Another loved wolf feed. Felt special.

Park listens. They build new pools.

The Combe Martin Wildlife and Dinosaur Park shows animals and old beasts. It sits in pretty land. Visitors learn and see. But it has hills and old parts. Plan well for a good day.

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Disclaimer:The information in this article about the Combe Martin Wildlife and Dinosaur Park is based on research from various sources, including web content and posts found on X, accurate as of August 10, 2025. It aims to provide factual, non-promotional details for educational purposes. However, details like ticket prices, opening hours, or park conditions may change. Always check the official Combe Martin Wildlife and Dinosaur Park website or contact them directly for the latest information before planning a visit. The author, Mary Correa, is not affiliated with the park and does not endorse it. Opinions or experiences mentioned are based on available data and not personal endorsement. For the most current updates, visit the park’s official site or trusted sources.