Bowes Otter Sanctuary Reserve

Gallery Set 1
The Sanctuary

It meant the earth to me to get to Bowes, and we paid a ruinous price to do so (there is no public transportation).

But I'm so glad I did, it was one of the high points of the trip.

The grounds of the reserve are in the countryside between Darlington and Penrith.  Though a poor substitute for their once-natural habitat, the grounds are spacious and protected and are now vitally important to the continuing survival of this wonderful animal.

ID#10-5-00-S

There are many ancillary exhibits at Bowes, making it a great place to bring children (or childlike adults).

Here, a household of bunnies peer uncomprehendingly at the weird visitors.

ID#10-5-00-K

The reserve has more than otters; there are exhibits of other animals, such as herds of red deer and fallow deer.

ID#10-5-00-P

There's even a small family of my beloved red Highlands cattle.

This friendly fellow loved to have his head scratched, but had the alarming response of shaking his head in delight.  With several feet of horns, this made the scratcher's task a feat of daring-do.  My solution was to wrap one arm firmly around a horn so that, when he shook his head, the horns took me with them rather than goring me.

Roly poly though I be, he flang me about with ease.  We both were very happy with the arrangement.  I wish I could have stayed forever.

ID#10-5-00-X