Live in Bitterne? Lead your own alpaca on a two-hour guided walk at Itchen Valley Country Park, just a short drive away.
Bitterne sits on the eastern bank of the River Itchen, and if you live there you are closer to a day with alpacas than you might think. Our walks run at Itchen Valley Country Park, Allington Lane, West End, SO30 3HQ, which is roughly a quarter of an hour from Southampton, so a morning's escape from the city streets of SO18 and SO19 is a short drive away.
Bitterne has a real village feel in its shopping parade, but plenty of residents tell us they crave open green space. That is exactly what the country park offers: meadows, river-valley paths and the slow, gentle pace of an animal that is in no hurry at all. You will meet your alpaca at the barn, be introduced to the halter and lead, and then set off with an experienced handler for around two hours.
Every walker leads their own alpaca. They are halter-trained, calm and curious, and our family-run team has been looking after them for 16 years. With more than 40 alpacas on the farm, there is a character to suit everybody, from the shy and gentle to the cheeky and food-obsessed.
Young families are the obvious fit: children aged 3 to 12 share a lead with an adult, 12 to 16 year olds lead with an adult present, and anyone 16 or over walks independently. Couples use it as a different sort of date, friends book it as a birthday treat, and grandparents bring grandchildren for a day that does not involve a screen. Our accessible walks run every Wednesday from April to October, with free carer tickets.
Walks start from £32 per person, with family packages from £92 and baby-alpaca walks from £54. An extra walker is £18, and optional rescheduling insurance is £4.50. Gift vouchers are available if you are buying for a neighbour. Book online or call 0333 050 4012.