Swap Petersfield's Heath and the South Downs for an afternoon leading your own halter-trained alpaca through the Hampshire countryside at Itchen Valley Country Park.
Petersfield sits right on the edge of the South Downs National Park, so its residents are no strangers to a good countryside walk. What they're often missing, though, is the chance to do it alongside an alpaca. That's exactly what Hensting Alpacas offers at Itchen Valley Country Park, a straightforward drive west of the town, where you'll lead one of our 40-plus halter-trained alpacas around two hours of parkland, hedgerow and open field.
Petersfield already has plenty going for it: the Heath, the Saturday market, the Georgian square. An alpaca walk gives you a reason to head slightly further afield without straying too far from home. Unlike a static farm visit where you view the animals from behind a fence, here you're the one holding the lead rope. An experienced handler walks with your group throughout, but the pace and the connection with your alpaca are yours to enjoy.
Itchen Valley Country Park is at Allington Lane, West End, Southampton, SO30 3HQ. From Petersfield, the drive is around 45 minutes, typically via the A272 and A32 towards the Meon Valley before picking up the A334 or joining the M27 corridor into West End. It's a pleasant cross-county route in its own right, taking you through some of the same rolling farmland the South Downs is known for before dropping you into the Itchen Valley.
Walks last around two hours in total, including time to meet your alpaca, get comfortable with the lead rope, and enjoy a relaxed circuit of the park. Alpacas are calm, curious animals and surprisingly easy to handle once you've had a few minutes' guidance. Children aged 3 to 12 share a lead with an adult, those aged 12 to 16 can lead independently with an adult present, and over-16s walk solo. We also run accessible walks every Wednesday between April and October, with free tickets for carers.
Prices start from £32 per person, with family packages from £92 and baby alpaca walks from £54 when available. An extra walker can join for £18, and rescheduling insurance is £4.50 if you'd rather not risk the Hampshire weather. Gift vouchers are also available if you're booking for someone else. We're a family-run, BAS-registered business with 16 years' experience, so you're in experienced hands from booking through to the walk itself. Call 0333 050 4012 or book online to secure your date.