Swap the village green for a woodland trail with your own alpaca. Guided two-hour alpaca walks just a short drive from Fair Oak and Horton Heath, from £32 per person.
If you live in Fair Oak, Horton Heath or the lanes in between, you are one of the closest communities to our alpaca herd. Hensting Alpacas runs guided alpaca walks at Itchen Valley Country Park on Allington Lane, West End, and for most Fair Oak households the drive is somewhere around ten to fifteen minutes. That makes this one of the easiest "something different" outings you can plan without a long journey, a packed bag or an early alarm.
Fair Oak has grown a lot over the years, and plenty of families here know the feeling of running out of fresh ideas for weekends. An alpaca walk gives you a genuine change of pace. You arrive, meet the herd, and are matched with your own halter-trained alpaca. An experienced handler then leads the group out along the park's paths and meadows for roughly two hours, stopping for photos, questions and the occasional alpaca who decides a patch of grass needs sampling.
Because the park is so near, it works as well for a quick Saturday morning plan as it does for a birthday treat or a visit from relatives who want to see something local.
We see all sorts: young families from the newer estates, grandparents bringing grandchildren, groups of friends, and couples looking for a gentle, sociable date. Children aged 3 to 12 share a lead with an adult, 12 to 16 year olds can lead their own alpaca with an adult present, and anyone 16 or over walks independently. Every Wednesday from April to October we also run accessible walks, with free carer tickets.
Our herd is more than 40 strong, and we are a family-run, BAS-registered farm with 16 years of alpaca-keeping behind us. The handlers know each animal's personality, so they pair walkers and alpacas thoughtfully.
Walks start from £32 per person, with family packages from £92 and baby alpaca walks from £54. An extra walker is £18, and rescheduling insurance is £4.50 if you would like flexibility with the British weather. Gift vouchers are available too, which make a thoughtful present for a Fair Oak neighbour or family member.
Book online using the calendar, or call us on 0333 050 4012 if you have questions. For practical tips on what to wear, timings and making the most of the day, read our Fair Oak visitor guide linked on this page.