Animal attractions outside
the Lothians
Scottish Donkey Sanctuary
The Holmes Saint Boswells Melrose
TD6 0EL
Opening Times
Saturdays 1pm to 4pm not open all year round. Check the website for more information
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Cost
£8.30
Children under 16 - Free
Tickets must be booked in advance online
What they say
Located at the 80 acre estate – The Holmes, St.Boswells, near Melrose, in The Scottish Borders – the animals fortunate in having been re-homed here, are accommodated in small groups in well-fenced and watered paddocks of permanent pasture, each with a field shelter.
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Along with the donkeys there are ponies, llamas, goats, pigs, sheep, ducks and many breeds of poultry and a mule called Muffin. There are toilets on site for your convenience and don’t forget to visit the shop before you go for a souvenir gift.
Jacksons at Jedburgh
Kersheugh Farm, Jedburgh, TD86QT
Opening Times
10am to 5pm Friday, Saturday and Sunday
Open during the week during the school holidays
Closed during the winter.
Cost
Adults £13
Children £8
Under 1 free
What they say
An experience at the Jackson’s family farm is all about slow living, back to nature and hands-on, real-life, farm experiences. Expect to be up close to farm animals and learn about how the Jackson family works together on their Scottish Borders beef and sheep farm. Jacksons at Jedburgh is about as far from a farm park as you can get.
Scottish Deer Centre
Bow of Fife, Cupar KY15 4NQ
Opening times
10am to 4:30pm
Cost
Adult £12.50
Child £8.50
Concession £10
Under 3 FREE
What they say
Our collection includes 12 species of Deer and animals which are long lost from the Scottish countryside including Wolves, Lynx and Scottish Wildcat plus our European Brown Bear.
We are open all year round with lots to see and do! Learn about our animals with daily feeding talks, tours, Falconry shows and play areas both inside and out for our younger visitors.
Blair Drummond
Safari Park
Blair Drummond, Stirlingshire, FK9 4UR
Opening times
Open everyday from 10am to 5.30pm
Closed during the winter months
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Cost
Adults £22.50
Children £16.00
Senior £19.50
Under 3 FREE
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What they say
Go on an exciting safari drive-thru, meet our beautiful giraffes, say 'hello' to the cheeky monkeys , explore one of the UK's best dinosaur attractions, or run wild in our giant outdoor play area – there’s a new adventure around every corner!
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Fife Zoo
Birnie Field, Kinloch, Ladybank, Fife,
KY15 7UT
Opening times
Open everyday 10am to 4pm
Cost
Adult £6
Child (age 1-12) £4
Concession £5
Prices are more if you don't book online in advance
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What they say
Fife Zoo is a small zoo making a big difference with even bigger plans! 15 species of animals and growing. Get up and close with Animal Encounters and Keeper Talks. Plenty of fresh air & quality family time outdoors. Perfect for little legs, pushchairs & wheelchairs.
Deep Sea World
Forthside Terrace Battery Quarry, North Queensferry, Fife, KY11 1JR
Opening Times
Open everyday from 10am to 5pm
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Cost
Adult (Age 13+) - £19.00
Child (Age 3-12) - £13.75
Concession (Student or aged 65+) - £16.00
What they say
Deep Sea World is home to amazing animals from around the world from tiny frogs to giant sharks! And the longest underwater walkway in Europe.
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Experience the water as they do by journeying through our Underwater Tunnel! At 112 metres long, the Underwater Tunnel at Deep Sea World is the longest underwater moving walkway in Europe. Because of its breath-taking size, you can leave the land behind and immerse yourself in the serenity of the water with an incredible menagerie of fish floating around you.
St Andrews Aquarium
The Scores, St Andrews KY16 9AS
Opening times
Open everyday from 10am to 5pm
Cost
Adult £16
Child £13
Under 3 free
What they say
Set in the cliffs overlooking St Andrews bay, our aquarium is a magical underwater world. When you visit us we'll lead you into a world full of adventure. Aquarium with a black tip reef shark, seals, penguins and more than 100 fish species, plus meerkats
Newparks Farm
The Loan, Whitecross, EH49 6LW
Opening Times
Open everyday from 10am to 5pm
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Cost
£1 car parking fee
What they say
Muiravonside is Falkirk's only Country Park, providing 170 acres of stunning woodland and parkland, a mini demonstration farm, a sculpture trail and a children's play area.
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We have a wide range of animals at the farm to visit, these include:
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Highland cattle
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Equine 'staff' - Charley and Jake the Clydesdale horses; the Shetland ponies - Robbie (a rescued Shetland pony we rehomed from the SSPCA), Teddy and Eddie
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Several pigs
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Mixed flock of rare breed sheep
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A collection of different breeds of goats
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Alpacas
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Our red deer Gertrude
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Amazon parrots - Chico and Del
The restored farm steading buildings house an assortment of smaller animals including rabbits, guinea pigs, ferrets and exotic birds, whilst the nearby wildfowl pond and bird enclosures contain flocks of larger birds like chickens, geese and ducks.
Auchingarrich Wildlife and Adventure Park
Comrie, Perthshire, PH6 2JE
Opening Times
Open everyday from 10am to 4pm
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Cost
Adult £14
Child £12
Under 2 free
What they say
Nestled in the picturesque Perthshire countryside, Auchingarrich Wildlife Park is a vibrant and well-equipped destination that promises unforgettable animal encounters and family-friendly adventures. Originally a humble hill farm, Auchingarrich has blossomed into a premier wildlife park offering a unique blend of zoo, petting farm, and adventure park experiences.
We have 40 different species of animal, each with its own particular charm. Come and explore all that Auchingarrich has to offer and learn more about the animals.
Sea Life Loch Lomond
Drumkinnon Tower, Ben Lomond Way,
Balloch, G83 8QL
Opening Times
Visit the website for opening times
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Cost
Adult £18
Child £15
Under 2 free
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What they say
There is so much to see at SEA LIFE Loch Lomond! Dive in and you'll discover:
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Interactive Rockpool Experience - Have you ever wanted to stroke a starfish or feel the shell of a crab? Now’s your chance because at our rocking Rockpools you can appreciate all of this!
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Over 1500 creatures - Take a fascinating journey from the shores of Loch Lomond to the depths of the world’s oceans in 7 themed zones
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Tropical Ocean Tunnel - Journey through the Tropical Ocean Tunnel, where you can come face-to-fin with Blacktip sharks, rays and other critters of the seas
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Otterly amazing - Meet our troublesome Otter trio, Lily Pickle and Cub, up close - watch out, they are cheeky! Asian Short Clawed Otters are the smallest of all species of Otter
​Briarlands Farm
Briarlands Farm, Blairdrummond,
Stirling, FK9 4UP
Opening Times
Open everyday from 10am to 5.30pm
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Cost
Adult £8
Child (2 to 16) £10
Under 2 free
Prices are slightly cheaper if you book online
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What they say
There’s loads to do at Briarlands to keep your wee ones entertained, from jumping pillows to football golf; tractor and trailer rides to archery. We also have sessions for petting our guinea pigs and rabbits, and feed available for purchase for some of the other farm animals around our Farm Park.
We have a cafe and small indoor play frame suitable for children up to age 7. The cafe serves light lunches, coffees and delicious home-baking, all made on the premises.
Bird Garden Scotland
Oxton, Lauder, Scottish Borders
TD2 6RA
Opening Times
Open every day 10am to 4:30pm
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Cost
Adult £14
Children/Concessions £8
Under 5's free
The admission cost gives you access to the park for a year.
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What they say
Bird Gardens Scotland is home to many species of birds which are endangered or threatened in their native habitat.
Bird Gardens Scotland has two key objectives. Firstly, to promote and demonstrate a more sustainable way of living, helping to conserve the natural world.
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Secondly, to promote the conservation of the natural world. We are involved with an ever-expanding number of conservation breeding programmes to help save some of the rarest birds.
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We welcome you to join us. In doing so you will be crusading the survival of rare birds.
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Lothians with Littles Top Tip
Don't forget to buy bird seed to feed the birds when you get your tickets
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Hill View Animal Park
Hillview Animal Park Bogside FK10 3QD
Opening Times
Visit the website for opening times. Tickets must be booked in advance.
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Cost
Adult £5
Child £4
Under 2 free
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What they say
Come along and meet our friendly animals at Hillview Animal Park - our private farm park! Open on select dates only over spring and summer.
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A variety of friendly animals to meet and interact with, from sheep to alpacas, chickens to cheeky donkeys! There is something for everyone.
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Amazonia
Strathclyde Country Park, Motherwell, Scotland ML1 3RT
Opening Times
Check their website for opening times
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Cost
Adult £6.80
Children/Concessions £5.20
Under 3's free
Slightly more expensive if you don't book online.
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What they say
A unique place for fun and learning for all ages, Amazonia is a temperature controlled tropical house, home to over 60 different species. Amazonia is themed on the Amazon rainforest in South America, the largest rainforest in the world!
Marvel at our monkeys, parrots, snakes, frogs, tarantulas, fish and more! Enter our nocturnal area to see bats, kinkajou, snakes and scorpions!
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Take a walk on the really wild side and participate in one of our animal handling sessions, held at various times throughout the day!
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