Muddy 'assault course' for children and adults of all ages
Open weekends and during school holidays
Pre-book tickets online
Children aged 2 and under go free
Showers, under cover outdoor cafe, toilets and parking on-site
Westcott, near Cullompton EX15 1RZ
Do your kids love to splash in muddy puddles and get wet at any available opportunity? Do they like climbing, challenging themselves on obstacle courses and scaling climbing walls? If it’s a yes to any of these, give The Bear Trail a try – it’s some seriously muddy fun!
Set outside in the Devon countryside, close to the M5 at Westcott near Cullompton, The Bear Trail is a like a giant adventure playground but with lots of mud and water thrown in all year round. Follow the course over balancing challenges, climb ropes, wade waist-deep through muddy water, commando-crawl marine-style under a net, take on the monkey bars (much harder with wet hands!), battle it out on the tug of war and fly down the giant slide into a water pit - perhaps the jewel in the Bear Trail’s crown!
This outdoor attraction is all-weather, so long as you’re in the right gear to stay warm and get absolutely drenched. For once, the kids (and adults!) can get purposely covered in mud from head to toe!
Opening hours
The Bear trail is open at weekends and during school holidays – pre-book tickets online either for a 3-hour session either from 10.30 or from 14.00. You can go around the course as many times as you like within your timeslot.
Age suitability
The Bear Trail welcomes all ages and abilities. Children aged 2 and under are admitted free of charge. Although a lot of the obstacles/sections are designed with water and mud to add to the fun, it is possible to have a great time at the Bear Trail without getting soaking, by choosing the dry activities and skipping the wet – in case you have a participant who’s not so keen on getting mucky. Be aware that there are ditches and sections with deeper water up to approx. 1m depth, so appropriate supervision around the course will be required.
Prices
Note that all entrants to The Bear Trail require a ticket whether participating or not.
Tickets needs to be pre-booked online.
Tickets cost £10.75 (concessions tickets are £5.75 and under 2’s are free,
What to wear?
On a hot day t shirt and leggings/shorts would be fine. Layer up on cooler days – a long sleeved/long leg base layer is a good idea with other light layers on top. Things that don’t soak up water and get too heavy, such as a rash vest / beach suit. I recommend old trainers for footwear as wellies can easily come off in the deeper water. But beware, the mud is the reddish Devon type, and anything light coloured will definitely be stained for life, so choose something you don’t mind getting ruined! You’ll need a full change of clothes for afterwards - something warm.
Are there showers?
Yes, there’s a brand-new shower block with both individual and double changing cubicles. The showers are communal, so you need to stay clothed (or at least partly clothed) while you wash off the worst of the dirt. Bring a towel, shower gel, and bin bags for your wet and muddy gear!
Is there anywhere to warm up afterwards? What about refreshments?
No, there’s no indoor seating (unless you’ve booked the party room) so if you’re staying for lunch bring a coat or something to stay warm after your shower. There’s an undercover outdoor seating area where you can sit to eat a wood-fired pizza or basic menu of ‘sausage and chips etc’ served from the kiosk on-site. Coffees, teas, soft drinks and ice creams also available. Or, head to the Merry Harriers pub (if you’re clean enough!) over the road for pub grub.
The Bear Trail is great fun for people of all ages, so embrace the elements and get stuck in! Look out for regular special events, such as the popular 'Colour bomb' days where you'll leave covered in powdered paint as well as mud.
Bear Town – younger children’s role play centre, next door
Situated on the same site as The Bear Trail is its sister attraction, ‘Bear Town’. Perfect for pre-schoolers and younger children who will enjoy dressing up and role playing in the indoor purpose-built centre where kids can be a fire fighter, hairdresser, or anything in between.
