Beacon Alpacas

What it’s like

Lead a trained alpaca on a walk through the Hambleton Hills, with morning sessions flexible enough for little ones to take the reins.

You turn up, get paired with an alpaca and head out into the Hambleton Hills with it on a lead, which is a properly different way to spend a morning than most farm visits offer. The morning walk is the one to pick with younger children, since the site says it can be tailored for any age or ability and is a shorter route than the afternoon version. There's feeding involved too, so expect a small queue of eager hands wanting to offer the morning snack before anyone even mentions the walk itself.

The afternoon experience runs longer, at around two hours, and suits kids who'll happily keep going once they've got the hang of leading their alpaca rather than just petting one. Either way it's a proper stroll, not a five-minute photo op, and you'll want boots that can cope with hill paths rather than trainers.

They walk every day except Tuesdays and Thursdays, and booking is essential, either through the website or by phone. There's a picnic area if you want to bring your own food and make a longer morning of it, plus a gift shop for the obligatory alpaca souvenir on the way out. A couple of Saturdays in August also see Qi Gong and Tai Chi sessions with the alpacas from 4 to 5pm, which is a fairly unusual add-on if that sort of thing appeals, at £10 payable on the day.

Facilities

Need to know

Best for

0 to 10, though morning walks flex for the youngest

How long to allow

Approximately 2 hours

• Morning walks are the better pick for younger or less confident children
• No walks on Tuesdays or Thursdays
• Gift vouchers last a full year if you're buying for someone else
• Wear boots suited to hill paths, not trainers

Plan your visit

See all Farms & Petting Farms in York · Things to do in York