Have you tried alpaca trekking yet?! We recently took our daughter Fern to the amazing Admirals View Alpacas for a half-hour trek with these beautiful creatures, and she loved every second of the experience! Keep reading to discover all about these lovely animals and why alpaca trekking has become such a popular activity…
Originating from the mountain ranges in south America, alpacas belong to the ‘Camelid’ family alongside camels, guanacos, and llamas. They are extremely sociable animals and have been completely domesticated since their discovery around 6000 years ago – you will never find alpacas in the wild. Alpacas are used to be around people and thrive in group settings. Just like people, alpacas have very different personalities; some are much kinder and gentler, whereas others are wilder and feistier.
Many people get alpacas and llamas mixed up – however, there are a few key differences that tell them apart. Alpacas are smaller animals and were bred for their soft fleeces, whereas llamas are bigger and shaggier, and were bred to carry supplies across the mountains. Llamas also have banana-shaped ears, whereas alpacas have much straighter ears.
Rewind 10 years and nobody would have heard of alpaca trekking. But these days, it’s not quite as unusual! Walking with alpacas has become very popular in recent years and is a great way to get up close and personal with these lovely creatures. They are walked on a halter and often trained from a young age. By nature, alpacas are gentle and inquisitive animals, making them a delight to walk with.
A walk with an alpaca is nothing like walking your dog! You’re not constantly pulling them back and anxious about them socialising with other dogs. Alpacas walk at their own pace and never rush, truly living in the moment. It’s an especially relaxing experience – you can focus on enjoying the beautiful surroundings in the company of these wonderful creatures.
Admirals View Alpacas is home to Powys and Shropshire’s friendly, therapeutic alpaca herd. Situated just outside Minsterley in the heart of the Shropshire Hills, they currently have 7 female Huacayas and 1 female Suri, ranging from cria (babies) to 21 years old. You can choose to walk with Alex (brown and white), Amy (dark brown), Bethany (sandy brown), Orchid (white), Georgia (black and white), Bronwen (blue-eyed white), Polly (rose grey) or Mandy (modern grey) on a half-hour or hour-long trekking experience.
The ½ hour trekking experience includes the following, priced at £20 per alpaca:
The 1-hour trekking experience includes the following, priced at £35 per alpaca:
Click here to book your trek with Admirals View Alpacas.
Moonrise Lodges is your idyllic rural hideaway in the heart of the Shropshire Hills. Our two luxury lodges, Swallow and Curlew, each sleep up to 4 people, providing the perfect base for a fun family staycation. Enjoy your own private firepit and hot tub. There is a BBQ hut that can hired separately for a guaranteed bbq evening in the dry, tennis and a private lake for wild swimming, fishing and relaxing!
To learn more about our lodges click here.
Click here to book your break at Moonrise Lodges today!