Swap the Solent shoreline for a woodland lake and a gentle two-hour stroll with your own alpaca. Itchen Valley Country Park is around 20 minutes from Warsash.
Warsash is a place that belongs to the water: the Hamble estuary, the Solent breeze, boats clanking in the harbour and a ferry across to Hamble-le-Rice. If you live here, a day out probably means looking at the sea. This is the opposite treat: a slow, sheltered walk through parkland with a fluffy, curious alpaca on the end of your lead rope.
Our guided walks run at Itchen Valley Country Park, Allington Lane, West End, Southampton, SO30 3HQ. Most Warsash visitors allow around 20 minutes by car, heading up through Bursledon or Hedge End towards West End, so you can be home for tea with plenty of daylight left.
You arrive, meet your handler and are introduced to your alpaca, a halter-trained animal chosen to suit you. After a short briefing on leading, stopping and the all-important art of letting an alpaca graze, you set off for around two hours of unhurried walking. Nobody is rushing; the alpacas set the tempo, and the conversation tends to drift from the animals to whatever else is on your mind.
There are over 40 alpacas in our herd, each with its own character. Some are bold and nosy, others shy and dainty. Our handlers know every one of them, so they will always match walker and animal sensibly.
Families from Locks Heath, Sarisbury and Hook make up a large share of our bookings, along with couples looking for a gift that is not another meal out. Children aged 3 to 12 share a lead with an adult, those aged 12 to 16 lead with an adult present, and anyone 16 or over can lead independently. Grandparents often come along too, since the pace is gentle and the ground is easy.
Walks start from £32 per person, with family packages from £92. Baby alpaca walks start from £54, an extra walker is £18, and rescheduling insurance is £4.50 if you want peace of mind about the British weather. Gift vouchers are available. Our team has been family-run for 16 years and is BAS-registered.
Accessible walks run every Wednesday from April to October, with free carer tickets. Questions? Call 0333 050 4012, or book online using the button on this page.