A bright and dry spring Sunday took us to Swithens Farm near Rothwell to spend a couple of hours with the farm animals!
Getting there via the M62 is relatively easy although there is a long dirt track which makes you wonder if you have gone wrong somewhere and doesn’t do anything for the car’s suspension!
Swithens Farm is such good value for money (£3 adults, under 5’s free – prices in 2016). Because of this, I would certainly recommend buying a small bag of carrots (30p!) to take round and feed the animals with. It is a good way for the animals to get close up to the children!
The Animals
It took us about an hour to go round all in all and there are cows, calves, goats, sheep, lambs and pigs all in their pens, but they are all wanting to be stroked (or are they are the carrots?!). While you have to be careful with them as you would with any animal, there isn’t anything to be particularly scared about.
We also saw some lambs wandering amongst the visitors which was lovely for the little ones. However, I’m not sure if they were meant to be loose! Given the time of year (and good fortune with timings) we also had the chance to bottle feed the lambs. This is such a fun toddler experience to have!
Facilities
There is also a climbing frame, trampolines and bouncy castle included in the cost as well as a couple of pay attractions (hook a duck, roundabout and mini golf) The trampolines have seen better days but given that it is outdoors, to be understood. I wonder if the animals go on there!
Afterwards we went for a drink/ice cream and we managed to get a table just before 12. However, it was packed by 12 o’clock both to go into the farm and to order food so it might be an idea to avoid that time. We didn’t have any food but the full English breakfast looked amazing! There is also an indoor play gym that you can pay to go in, but Heidi was exhausted at that point!
Just a word of “warning”; the farm is a working farm and so it does get muddy and cold. Dress appropriately and perhaps leave the buggy in the car, especially if it has been raining. The hand washing stations were difficult to find as well so if you find one, use it!
All in all, it was a lovely hour or so at Swithens Farm and brilliant value for money. This is especially compared to some of the other farms in the area!
Update: I knew I had forgotten something! The cafe has a really good baby changing room in the disabled toilet. Lots of room and the changing pull down mat looked in good condition so would have no problems using the facilities there.
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