Treat Dad to something he'll actually remember this Father's Day — a two-hour guided walk with his own halter-trained alpaca through Itchen Valley Country Park.
Father's Day gifts have a habit of ending up in a drawer. A tie, another mug, a gadget that gets used twice — well-meant, quickly forgotten. An alpaca walk at Hensting Alpacas is the opposite: two hours outdoors, no batteries required, and a story he'll actually tell people about afterwards.
You lead your own halter-trained alpaca on a guided route through Itchen Valley Country Park, with one of our experienced handlers alongside the group the whole way. There are more than 40 alpacas at the farm, each with its own personality — some nosy, some aloof, a few who'll happily lean on you for a fuss — so no two walks feel quite the same. It's calm, a bit daft in places, genuinely funny, and different enough from a normal Sunday that it sticks in the memory long after a card would have been binned. Most dads arrive polite and sceptical and leave asking when they can come back, which tells you most of what you need to know.
Book it as a one-on-one treat for Dad with his own handler, or bring the family along and make a morning of it. Under-16s can share a lead alongside an adult, so grandchildren, kids and partners can all take part in the same walk rather than standing on the sidelines. Family packages start from £92, which comes out cheaper than most of us spend on a round of golf and a pub lunch afterwards — and it's a gift the rest of the family gets to enjoy too, not just Dad. It also tends to make for better photos than a wrapped box on the breakfast table.
Father's Day slots book up quickly, particularly on the day itself, so we'd suggest reserving a place a few weeks ahead — ideally by late May for a June date. If you're arranging it as a surprise, our gift vouchers let you lock in the price now and leave Dad to pick his own date later, with rescheduling insurance available for £4.50 in case the Hampshire weather has other ideas. It's a low-risk way to promise something specific on the day itself without pinning everything on one weather forecast.
We're based at Itchen Valley Country Park, Allington Lane, West End, Southampton, SO30 3HQ — around 15 minutes from Southampton, Winchester and Eastleigh, and an easy drive from Portsmouth, Fareham, Romsey and Basingstoke. Walks run for around two hours, from £32 per person, with an experienced handler guiding the group throughout and 16 years of alpaca-keeping behind every walk. Call us on 0333 050 4012 or book online to grab a Father's Day date before they go.