Planning Your Alpaca Walking Fareham Visit — Costs, Booking & What to Expect
Fareham is well-placed for day trips across Hampshire, but it is remarkably close to one of the county's most distinctive animal experiences — Hensting Alpacas at Itchen Valley Country Park. This guide covers the journey from Fareham, what an alpaca walk involves, who books and why, and what else the country park offers on the same visit — making it easy to plan a full family day out within 25 minutes of the town centre.
What Makes This Experience Different
Fareham sits between Portsmouth and Southampton on the M27 corridor, which makes Hensting Alpacas at Itchen Valley Country Park one of the most accessible rural experiences available to PO14–PO17 residents. The journey from Fareham town centre is typically 20–25 minutes — west on the M27 to junction 7, then north via Hedge End. For Fareham families, this proximity means an alpaca walk is a genuinely viable spontaneous weekend activity rather than a planned expedition — and the contrast between the residential outskirts of Fareham and the open water meadows of Itchen Valley Country Park is striking enough to make the experience feel much further from home than it actually is.
The Practical Details
From Fareham, Hensting Alpacas at Itchen Valley Country Park (SO30 3HQ) is approximately 20–25 minutes via the M27 westbound — exit at junction 7 for Hedge End, then follow the B3035 towards West End. Car parking is available at the country park from £1.30/hour. Alpaca walks are priced from £32 per person for the 2-hour guided experience and are available year-round. Weekend and school holiday slots for family groups should be booked 2–3 weeks in advance. Call 0333 050 4012 or book online.
Costs & Booking
Alpaca walks start from £32 per person, with family tickets available. Book online via the live calendar — what you see is what is genuinely available, with payment processed securely through Stripe and e-tickets sent by email. Gift vouchers are available year-round from £32, valid 12 months, instant email delivery.
What to Bring & Wear
Comfortable outdoor clothing appropriate for the weather, sturdy footwear you do not mind getting slightly muddy, and a willingness to be completely charmed by an animal you have probably never interacted with before. Camera or phone for photos — the alpacas are remarkably photogenic. No pushchairs are permitted; infants in baby carriers only.
Making the Most of Your Visit
Itchen Valley Country Park offers considerably more than the alpaca walk alone. Go Ape's high ropes and ziplines are on site, along with six play areas, the woodland café, orienteering trails, and over 5km of accessible walking routes along the River Itchen. Arriving early for your alpaca walk and spending the afternoon in the park makes for a genuinely full Hampshire day out.
Getting There from Fareham
Itchen Valley Country Park, Allington Lane, West End, Southampton, SO30 3HQ. Approximately 20–25 minutes from Fareham via the M27 westbound, exit junction 7 for Hedge End. Also 10 min from Southampton city centre, 10 min from Eastleigh, 25 min from Winchester. Parking from £1.30/hour; free Blue Badge parking.