My Christmas present from Sarah last year was a ‘Penguin Experience’ at South Lakes Safari Zoo. However, due to the Coronavirus lockdown, our original date had been postponed. Finally, in late autumn, the South Lakes Zoo were able to reopen again and begin offering ‘Experiences’. So, Sarah and I re-booked for a September experience.

We began by booking an overnight stay in Barrow-in-Furness. By chance, we found Barrow Indian Cuisine, an unassuming place, and enjoyed an excellent evening meal.

After the meal, we went for a little stroll around part of the town.

We found a nice little park behind the Dock Museum near where we were staying.

The following morning we headed off South Lakes Safari Zoo for our Penguin Experience.

The ‘experience’ gave us the opportunity to feed the penguins

Additionally, the zookeeper provided information about the penguins – where they were from, their diet etc.

It was an enjoyable ‘experience’, but it didn’t last very long TBH.

Thankfully, the ‘experience’ ticket included entry into the rest of the zoo.

So we set off to explore.

The various animals were out in force today, there were only a couple that kept well hidden.

There were also quite a few paddocks where you were able to mingle with the animals.

And there were lots of peacocks wandering around …

Another paddock had small birds.

While a further paddock had emus, capybara, wallabies

Best of all, there was an enclosure you could walk through containing large birds-of-prey.

The vultures were particularly inquisitive.

More than once we had to dodge out of the way!

Sarah likes otters, and the first time we passed their enclosure they were proving elusive. Thankfully we went back and took another look.

Then, just as we were finishing (or thought we were), there was a downpour. However, there were still more animals to see

We had thoroughly enjoyed our South Lakes Safari Zoo experience. It had been a fantastic morning, and we can heartily recommend a visit.

Afterwards, after setting off for home, and on the way, we paid a quick visit to Ulverston. We’ll be visiting the town again in the near future on our upcoming Bay Cycle Way tour. We have booked an evening meal at The Farmers. So we thought we’d test it out for our lunch stop! We are pleased to say, it was very enjoyable.

Afterwards, we had a little look around the town and passed the statue commemorating their most famous celebrity – Stan Laurel (and Hardy).