Fun for families with young ones in Wiltshire – a perfect pit-stop when visiting Stone Henge too!
We were recommended to visit Cholderton Rare Breeds Farm by a friend at our local toddler group, and I’m so glad we decided to give it a try. As it’s situated just a couple of miles from Stone Henge, we knew it was about a 30-minute drive from our home, so not a lot of planning was required. If we were visiting from further afield, we would definitely recommend pairing it with a visit to Stone Henge. You could easily do both on the same day, and it’s a great way to keep both the little ones and the older kids satisfied. Now it is worth noting that the farm does currently insist that you pre-book online. In doing so we did get a fantastic discount, so it did pay for us to book ahead!
Animal Feed is just £1.50 per bag, is a good size, and is available to purchase at the entrance. Unlike some places, the animal feed can be given to almost all of the animals you encounter, so the kids won’t have to worry about choosing which animals they want to feed. Just look out for any signs on the enclosures – when we visited just after Christmas (like many of us) the donkey was on a diet!
In addition to feeding the animals at your leisure, there is a daily schedule of activities to be explored. From small animal handling to pig racing and everything in-between, if you are willing to get involved, you can really make a day of it. You can view an example of the Daily Activity Timetable here. On the day we visited the farm, we got to pet some rabbits and guinea pigs, brush a small pony and sit on a real tractor!
If you prefer to explore the farm on your own, there is a map highlighting all of the animal and activity zones, as well as all of the play equipment. There is a small zip-line, many climbing frames for the older children, and a smaller play area by the cafe with trampolines!
We enjoyed lunch in the cafe, but if you want to bring your own food and drink, this is actively encouraged with plenty of benches and bins available around the farm. The menu in the cafe is a mixture of hot and cold meals, featuring local delights such as ‘Wiltshire ham, egg & chips’ and hot Cornish pasties. They also do a fantastic children’s lunchbox, filled with sandwiches, a drink, fruit and more, plus some handy crayons for the activities on the box! As parents, it’s great when every detail has been considered. The kids can crack on with their lunch immediately whilst Mummy & Daddy enjoy a hot drink as they wait for their food – and relax!
Despite visiting during a pandemic, we always felt safe during our visit. There is plenty of outdoor space, hand washing sinks and sanitising stations throughout the farm. Staff in the cafe were wearing face coverings and the tables were well spaced inside and out. There are a number of toilets too, including baby changing facilities.
Top Tips
- Take your wellies! Whether it has rained that morning or not, the ground is muddy and well-trodden. Expect the kids to get a bit mucky!
- Set your expectations appropriately. This is a working farm first and foremost, not a zoo, so expect it so smell like animals and require parental supervision at all times.
- Try to leave your buggy in the car. We didn’t, but my son wanted to walk everywhere anyway and I ended up pushing an empty pushchair through mud and long grass for nothing. It is small enough and close enough to the car park that you could run and get it if you needed to at some point.
- If wanting to eat inside the cafe, be there just before 12:00 noon, or be prepared to wait. The cafe is fantastic but it’s small. By 12:30 there was a 30 minute wait for food, but come 13:00, the queue for the cafe was gone! Totally worth the wait, but next time we would eat earlier or later to avoid the hassle.
- Buy some sausages from the farm shop and continue your experience at home. The pork & honey sausages were delicious! Visit during the summer months for an abundance of fresh fruit and vegetables too!
General Information
Address: Cholderton Rare Breeds Farm, Amesbury Road, Cholderton, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP4 0EW
Website: www.choldertonrarebreedsfarm.com
Telephone: 01980 629 438
TripAdvisor: Click here to read the latest reviews
Wheelchair & Pushchair friendly? In the cafe & farm shop, yes. The farm it’s self, not so much. Be prepared for uneven ground, mud and moderately long grass. It is a farm, after all!
Have you visited Cholderton Rare Breeds Farm? What was your family highlight? Let us know in the comments – we’d love to hear from you!
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