Swap the usual cocktails-and-clubbing hen do for something the bride will actually remember — a two-hour guided alpaca walk in Hampshire, giggles and photos included.
Looking for a hen party that breaks the mould? Instead of another round of prosecco in a crowded bar, gather the girls at Itchen Valley Country Park and spend a gloriously silly two hours leading your own halter-trained alpaca through the Hampshire countryside. It is calm, it is hilarious, and it produces the kind of photographs the bride will still be laughing at on her tenth anniversary.
Our alpaca walks are built for groups. Everyone gets their own alpaca to lead, so no one is left standing awkwardly at the side — the shyest member of the party and the loudest are equally busy negotiating with a fluffy, opinionated companion. We can pair the bride with one of the softest, most photogenic boys in the herd, sash and veil entirely welcome. Between the four legs, the humming and the occasional dramatic refusal to walk past a particularly interesting patch of grass, the ice breaks itself.
You will meet your experienced handler, get a friendly safety briefing and a proper introduction to the herd, then set off in a relaxed loop through the woods and meadows of the park. The pace is gentle — this is strolling, not hiking — with plenty of pauses for photos, alpaca cuddles and the inevitable group shot. Our handlers are happy to play photographer so no one has to miss out, and they know exactly which spots make the best backdrops for the group's socials.
Walks are around two hours and start from just £32 per person, which makes an alpaca hen party surprisingly kind on everyone's budget compared with a spa day or a city break. Larger parties are easy to accommodate — get in touch and we will match alpacas to numbers. Fancy making a real day of it? Bring a picnic for afterwards, add gift vouchers as favours, or treat the bride to a keepsake photo. Rescheduling insurance is available at £4.50 per person, handy if your dates are still in flux.
The park sits at Allington Lane, West End, Southampton, SO30 3HQ — around fifteen minutes from Southampton, Winchester and Eastleigh, and a straightforward run from Portsmouth, Fareham, Romsey, Basingstoke and the New Forest. There is on-site parking, so car-shares and taxis are equally simple. We are a family-run, BAS-registered farm that has been sharing our alpacas for sixteen years, and we love a celebration. Ready to plan the least predictable, most photogenic hen do of the year? Give us a ring on 0333 050 4012 and let's find your date.