Trade the quay for a halter and lead your own alpaca through Hampshire countryside, a scenic 35-minute drive from Lymington.
If your usual weekend runs to Lymington's quay, the Saturday market, or the ferry queue for the Isle of Wight, a morning with the alpacas is a proper change of scenery — and it's a more manageable drive than most people expect. Hensting Alpacas sits at Itchen Valley Country Park in West End, Southampton, around 35–40 minutes from Lymington via the A337 and the edge of the New Forest.
Lymington families know the Forest well: the ponies grazing the verges, the heathland tracks, the walk down to the shore at Keyhaven. An alpaca walk gives you something the ponies never will — an animal that's genuinely yours to lead. Every walker takes charge of their own halter-trained alpaca for the full two-hour session, guided the whole way by one of our experienced handlers. We've been doing this as a family business for 16 years, with a BAS-registered herd of more than 40 alpacas, so nobody is ever thrown in without a proper introduction first.
Children aged 3 to 12 share a lead with an adult, those 12 to 16 can hold their own lead with an adult alongside, and anyone 16 or over walks independently. That spread makes it a genuinely good fit for a Lymington family day out that covers grandparents and toddlers alike, and it works just as well as a stand-alone outing as it does bolted onto a longer day exploring the western New Forest. We also run accessible walks every Wednesday between April and October, with free tickets for carers.
The most straightforward route is up the A337 through Brockenhurst and Lyndhurst, then across via the A35 and A326 towards West End — allow the full 35–40 minutes, longer in summer Forest traffic. Sat nav will bring you straight to Itchen Valley Country Park, Allington Lane, West End, Southampton, SO30 3HQ, where there's parking on site.
Because the drive up from Lymington takes you along the Forest fringe, plenty of visitors treat the walk as one half of a longer day out — a wander around Brockenhurst or Beaulieu on the way, or a stop in Romsey on the return leg. Others prefer to keep it simple: book a morning slot, walk, and be back on the quay for a late lunch. Either way, the two-hour session leaves a comfortable window either side.
Bring boots or wellies rather than trainers — alpacas are walked on the country park's tracks and fields whatever the weather, and Hampshire mud doesn't care what season it is. Waterproofs are worth keeping in the car even on a bright forecast, since the walk goes ahead rain or shine. Walks start from £32 per person, with family packages from £92 and baby-alpaca walks from £54. An extra walker can join for £18, and £4.50 covers rescheduling insurance. Gift vouchers are available too. Call 0333 050 4012 for help picking a date, or book directly online.