Home to PECO, the world famous model railway track manufacturer, Pecorama is one of Devon’s leading tourist attractions perfect for families, model railway enthusiasts, gardeners and just about everyone in between!
Pecorama stands proudly above the village of Beer, in the east of Devon, high on the hillside overlooking the sea. The 9 acre site includes the manufacturing production of the world famous PECO products, the team behind Railway Modeller and Continental Modeller magazines, as well as one of the West Country’s best loved tourist attractions – Pecorama, which includes the Beer Heights Light Railway, gardens and more!
Considered by many to be the finest 7.5 inch gauge railway in Britain, the Beer Heights Railway has been wowing guests since the 1970s. Railway rides are a great addition to any visit to Pecorama, not only because of the fun of the track, but also because of the glorious views it offers over the region. Pecorama is located high up on the hillside above Beer and passengers can see all along the Jurassic Coast, over Lyme Bay and even out to Portland Bill, make sure to have your camera handy! The route also takes in the site’s formal gardens and the wildlife pond, which is a request stop for anyone wanting to explore.
There’s even the chance to become the train driver for the day! Why not take part in one of the driver experiences courses offered at the Pecorama? It’s a wonderful opportunity to get behind the wheel with expert tuition from the highly trained staff. It’s the perfect day out for the railway enthusiasts in your life.
Model railway fans will love spending a few hours enjoying the exhibition and model shop which is open all year around and with it being constantly added to and improved, it’s a different experience each time you visit. The exhibition centre offers a number of courses and events, perfect for those who want to know more about model railways or hone their own building and designing skills.
Pecorama isn’t just about trains, the site is home to some of the finest gardens in the Beer area. The Millennium Gardens were formally opened in 2000 by celebrity gardener, Anne Swithinbank. The garden is an ideal spot for whiling away the hours in the sunshine and admiring the talents of their team of gardeners. Each of the individual gardens are themed, with a Sun, Moon and Rainbow garden with their own colour schemes as well as the roof garden, scented walkways and the grotto, which is predominantly constructed with seashells and features a dolphin leaping out of the sea.
Hidden somewhere on the site, you’ll also find the Secret Garden, separate from the main attraction and a real tranquil spot – will you discover it on your next visit?
For those of you who want to get back to nature, don’t forget to make time for a trip to the Wildway, away from the formal gardens and accessible either as a request stop on the train ride or on foot, the Wildway is home to a number of different plants as well as frogs, toads and dragons flies. Kids love peeking into Crawlie Hall, the six storey bug hotel, where they can find some of the Wildway’s residence and learn more about their natural habitats.
There really is something for everyone at Pecorama to make your day out really special.
