Honestly, who cares why? The geniuses behind this place looked at a classic farm animal and thought, “You know what? This deserves a rollercoaster.” And they were right. The park officially opened in 1999, and it’s been a fluffy pilgrimage site ever since. It’s like Disney World, but instead of Mickey Mouse, your mascot is a creature that basically eats grass and looks confused.
But here’s the surprising fact: The Big Sheep isn’t just about cute critters. It’s home to the only sheep-themed “Ewe-turn” rollercoaster in the UK. Yes, you read that right—a coaster where you scream, but the sheep just stare at you with those horizontal death-slits for eyes. It’s both thrilling and mildly judgmental.
The Hands-On, Gloriously Odd Experiences
Forget petting zoos where you’re limited to patting a goat. Here, you can do a full-on sheep Grand National—live sheep racing, complete with jockeys who are dogs. That’s right: dogs ride sheep. It’s like a tiny, fluffy rodeo, and the sheep look like they’re in a perpetual state of “I didn’t sign up for this.” The crowd goes wild. The sheep just go “baa.”
If that’s not weird enough, you can also try sheep racing with remote-controlled sheepdogs. You don’t just watch—you control a little robot dog that chases actual sheep. It’s like playing a video game, but the objective is to annoy a farm animal into running in circles. Success feels like winning a gold medal in chaotic herding.
And for the kids (or the childlike adults, let’s be honest), there’s the sheep-themed tractor ride. You sit on a hay bale while a tractor toots along, and you learn about sheep. It’s educational, but the tractor driver delivers facts with a deadpan British humor that makes you laugh. Did you know sheep can recognize up to 50 faces? Probably not—they just look like they’re ignoring you.
A Fun Filled Devon Day Out to The Big Sheep
