Swap the Christmas queues for a frosty morning with the alpacas. A festive guided walk near Southampton that makes a magical seasonal treat or gift.
There is something about the run-up to Christmas that makes a slow walk through a Hampshire country park feel especially good for the soul. While the high streets fill up and the to-do lists grow, our festive alpaca walks at Itchen Valley Country Park offer a quieter kind of December: crisp air, low golden light through the bare trees, and a curious, halter-trained alpaca padding along beside you. It is the antidote to the seasonal rush, and it has quietly become one of our most-loved times of year to visit the herd.
Each walk lasts around two hours and begins with a warm welcome and a proper introduction to your alpaca for the day. You will learn how to hold the lead, how to read your alpaca's mood, and how to keep the pace relaxed and happy. Then it is off into the woods and meadows of the park, where the winter landscape shows the alpacas at their fluffiest and most photogenic. Frost on the grass, breath hanging in the cold air, and forty-odd alpacas in their thick winter fleece — it is exactly the sort of scene that ends up on a Christmas card.
December is when people run out of ideas for the person who has everything, and an experience always beats another scarf. A gift voucher for an alpaca walk gives someone a morning to look forward to well into the new year, and it works for almost anyone — grandparents, teenagers, couples, or the whole family together. Vouchers are open-dated, so the recipient simply books a date that suits them once the Christmas dust has settled. If you would rather book a specific festive date to share with family visiting for the holidays, we can help with that too.
Winter walks reward those who dress for them. Sturdy wellies or walking boots, warm layers, a hat and gloves will keep everyone comfortable on the frosty ground, and the park's paths can be muddy after rain, so nothing you mind getting mucky. December dates are among the first to fill each year, so it is well worth booking early if you have your heart set on a walk before the big day. We are just fifteen minutes from Southampton, Winchester and Eastleigh, and an easy drive from Portsmouth, Fareham, Romsey and beyond.
Whether you are treating yourself to a peaceful morning away from the wrapping paper or giving a gift that will still be talked about long after the crackers are pulled, a Christmas alpaca walk is a warm, memorable and very Hampshire way to mark the season.