A family review of The Big Sheep in North Devon, with rides, animals, indoor play, Duck Trials, sheep shows, Easter activities and family fun near Bideford.

5* Review: The Big Sheep Ilfracombe – The Best Day Out In Devon

The Big Sheep is one of those places that sounds a bit random until you get there — and then you realise that random is basically the whole point.

It’s part farm, part theme park, part indoor play centre, part comedy show, part nostalgic countryside chaos. We visited during our North Devon holiday and, honestly, it ended up being the best family day out we’d had in ages.

I actually went to The Big Sheep as a child, and the strange thing is that not a lot seems to have changed. I don’t mean that as an insult. If anything, that’s part of why I liked it. It still has that old-school, slightly chaotic, proper family-holiday feel that newer attractions sometimes don’t have.

It isn’t sleek. It isn’t trying to be glossy. It’s sheep shows, rides, animals, play areas, slightly mad entertainment and children running around having the time of their lives. And somehow, that made it even better.

What is The Big Sheep?

The Big Sheep is a family attraction near Bideford in North Devon. It has farm animals, live shows, rides, outdoor play, a big indoor play area, crafts and seasonal activities.

It’s not just a farm, but it isn’t a huge theme park either. It sits somewhere in the middle, which is probably why it worked so well for us. There was plenty to do, but it didn’t feel like one of those days where you’re constantly queueing, clock-watching or trying to squeeze every last penny out of the ticket price.

It felt easy. And honestly, with kids, that counts for a lot.

Why It Worked So Well For Us

I think the reason we enjoyed it so much was because nobody really got chance to get bored or start moaning.

There were animals, shows, rides, indoor play, outdoor areas and a craft tent. So if one thing started to lose its magic, we could just move on to something else. That kind of variety makes a huge difference on a family day out.

It also worked for all of us, which doesn’t always happen. Some places feel like they’re really only for toddlers, or only for older children, or only enjoyable if you’re the one not supervising. The Big Sheep felt like a proper family day out: the kids had loads to do, but we weren’t just standing around waiting for it to be over.

We actually enjoyed it too.

The Rides — And The Surprisingly Good Rollercoaster

One of the biggest surprises was the rides.

I expected a few gentle farm-style rides, but the rollercoaster was genuinely excellent. Not “good for a farm park” good — actually good. It added a proper bit of excitement to the day without making the place feel overwhelming.

There were also outdoor play areas and other ride-style attractions, so the children had plenty of chances to burn off energy. It gave the day that nice balance between farm visit and mini theme park.

The Farm Area and Lambing

The animal side was one of the most memorable parts of the day.

We saw plenty of animals, but the standout moment was seeing a lamb being born. That was really special, especially because we visited at Easter. It made the whole spring/new life thing feel very real rather than just something cute on a display board.

It’s the sort of thing children actually remember. You can show them videos or read books about farm animals, but seeing something like that happen right in front of them is completely different.

The Duck Trials

One of the funniest parts of the day was watching the sheepdog herd ducks.

I think this is called the Duck Trials, and it is exactly as strange and entertaining as it sounds. A sheepdog guides ducks around an obstacle course, and somehow you find yourself genuinely invested in whether a duck is going to go the right way.

It had that proper countryside-show feel: silly, clever, a bit chaotic and very memorable. It’s not something you see every day, which is probably why it works so well.

The Sheep Show

The sheep show was another highlight.

We learned about different types of sheep, but it didn’t feel like a boring educational talk. It was funny, lively and very tongue-in-cheek. Different breeds came out, there was plenty of humour, and it had that very British “this is ridiculous but I’m fully enjoying it” energy.

The Big Sheep has absolutely committed to the sheep theme, and I respect that.

Easter activities

Because we visited during the Easter holidays, there were extra activities too.

There was an Easter show in a tent with the Easter Bunny, which the children enjoyed, and an Easter hunt where every child got an egg. I liked that it was simple and fair. No drama, no competitive chaos, just a nice little extra that made the visit feel more seasonal.

The Easter bits were a bonus rather than the whole reason to visit, which I actually liked. Even without them, there would still have been plenty to do.

Indoor Play And The Death Slides

The indoor play area was brilliant.

It had the kind of slides I always call death slides: the ones children throw themselves down with absolute joy while parents watch and silently wonder whether this is how the day ends.

Obviously, the kids loved them.

This area also makes The Big Sheep a really useful wet-weather option. It isn’t just a tiny soft play corner shoved in the side of a building. It’s a proper indoor play space, and you could easily spend a decent amount of time in there if the weather turned.

Crafts and Calmer Moments

There was also an indoor craft tent, which gave the day a bit of breathing space.

I always appreciate somewhere children can sit down for a bit without the whole day grinding to a halt. After rides, animals and shows, it was nice to have something calmer that still felt like part of the experience.

It helped the day feel less frantic.

Food, Drinks and the Brownie

We didn’t eat a full meal in the café, but the food looked lovely and there seemed to be good family-friendly options.

What I can properly comment on is the brownie.

And honestly? It was excellent. One of the nicest brownies I’ve had on a day out. I was not expecting to leave The Big Sheep thinking about a brownie, but here we are.

There also seemed to be areas for adults to try or buy local drinks, possibly including local beer, which is a nice touch. I always like it when family attractions remember that adults are people too.

Is The Big Sheep Worth Visiting?

Yes. Absolutely.

For us, The Big Sheep was the best family day out we’d had in ages. It had nostalgia for me, animals and play for the children, enough humour for the adults, and enough variety that the day never dragged.

It’s not trying to be modern and polished, and I don’t think I’d want it to be. It feels like the kind of place childhood holidays used to have: a bit silly, a bit chaotic, full of character and genuinely fun.

If you’re visiting North Devon with children, I’d definitely add The Big Sheep to your list. It’s one of those places that sounds like it might be mainly for young kids, but actually worked really well for all of us.

And if you go, get the brownie.