Guided two-hour alpaca walks at Itchen Valley Country Park, just a 20-minute drive from Chandlers Ford.
If you're searching for something different to do this weekend from Chandlers Ford, a guided alpaca walk at Itchen Valley Country Park is closer than most people realise. We're just the other side of Eastleigh from you, tucked away on Allington Lane in West End, Southampton — a route many Chandlers Ford families already know from trips to the park or the M3.
The drive takes around 20 minutes and roughly 8 miles, whichever way you come. Head south via Fair Oak and Horton Heath on quieter lanes for a pleasant cross-country route, or join the M3 at Junction 12 and pick up the A335 towards West End — both bring you straight to Allington Lane, SO30 3HQ, with free on-site parking waiting at the end. It's a genuinely easy Saturday-morning trip, with none of the motorway traffic that can make longer Hampshire days out feel like hard work before you've even arrived.
Once you arrive, one of our experienced handlers will match you with a halter-trained alpaca from our herd of more than 40. You'll lead your own alpaca on a relaxed two-hour walk around the country park, learning about alpaca behaviour, herd dynamics and how these gentle South American natives ended up grazing the Hampshire countryside. There's plenty of time for photos, questions and simply enjoying the calm of walking alongside an animal that's genuinely curious about you. No two walks play out quite the same, since every alpaca in the herd has its own personality and pace.
Hensting Alpacas has been welcoming visitors for over 16 years and is BAS-registered, so you can book knowing the herd is properly cared for and the experience properly run. Children aged 3 to 12 share a lead with an adult, those 12 to 16 can lead with an adult present, and anyone 16 or over is welcome to walk independently — making this a genuinely flexible outing for Chandlers Ford families of any shape, from a toddler's first countryside adventure to a grandparent looking for something a little different.
Walks start from £32 per person, with family packages from £92 and baby-alpaca walks from £54. An extra walker can join from £18, and £4.50 rescheduling insurance protects your booking against last-minute Hampshire weather. Gift vouchers are available if you'd rather give the experience than book it yourself — a popular choice for birthdays and Christmas among Chandlers Ford residents looking for something more memorable than another parcel. Accessible walks run every Wednesday from April to October with free carer tickets. Call us on 0333 050 4012 or book online — we look forward to seeing you and your family make the short trip over from Chandlers Ford.