Trade the pavement for shady woodland trails on a guided alpaca trek at Itchen Valley Country Park — you lead your own halter-trained alpaca along Hampshire's paths for around two hours.
If the word "trek" conjures muddy boots and a proper adventure, an alpaca trek in Hampshire is exactly that — only with a curious, fleecy companion padding along beside you. At Hensting Alpacas we run guided treks from Itchen Valley Country Park, Allington Lane, West End, Southampton, SO30 3HQ, where the trails wind through mixed woodland, along water meadows and across open grassland. It's a genuine walk in the countryside rather than a lap of a paddock, and the alpacas love the change of scenery as much as you will.
The difference is the ground you cover. Over roughly two hours you and your alpaca follow winding park trails, dipping into the trees where the light dapples through the canopy and out again onto the meadows beside the River Itchen. You hold the halter rope, set the pace and learn to read your alpaca's body language — when it wants to browse a hedgerow, when it's happy to press on, and when it simply wants to stop and stare at a passing dog walker. An experienced handler treks with your group throughout, so you always have someone on hand for tips and photos.
Alpaca trekking rewards anyone who enjoys being outdoors and wants a bit more distance under their feet than a gentle meet-and-greet offers. It's a favourite with couples after an unusual date, groups of friends, walkers who fancy company of the four-legged kind, and families with older children. All ages are welcome: youngsters aged 3–12 share a lead with an adult, 12–16 year-olds can lead with an adult present, and anyone 16 and over can take a halter of their own. Our herd of more than 40 alpacas means we can match a calm, steady animal to first-time trekkers and a livelier character to those who want one.
Wear sturdy shoes or wellies and dress for the Hampshire weather — layers in winter, sun cream and a hat in summer, and something waterproof if the sky looks doubtful. The route is gentle underfoot but can be soft after rain. Bring a camera or phone: the woodland stretches make for wonderful photographs, and your handler is always glad to snap a few of you and your alpaca mid-trek.
We're a family-run, BAS-registered farm that has been sharing our alpacas for 16 years, and we're roughly 15 minutes from Southampton, Winchester and Eastleigh, with easy runs in from Portsmouth, Fareham, Romsey, Basingstoke and the New Forest. Treks start from £32 per person, family packages from £92, and gift vouchers are available if you'd like to send someone on an adventure. Rescheduling insurance is £4.50 should your plans change. Call us on 0333 050 4012 or book online to claim your spot on the trail.