Planning Your Alpaca Walking Winchester Visit — Costs, Booking & What to Expect
If you live in or around Winchester and you are looking for a genuinely different day out in Hampshire — not another cathedral café or National Trust property — Hensting Alpacas at Itchen Valley Country Park is 20–25 minutes away and offers one of the most distinctive outdoor experiences in the county. This guide covers everything Winchester residents need to know about booking an alpaca walk: how to get there, what the experience involves, seasonal availability, and how to combine it with a full day at Itchen Valley Country Park.
What Makes This Experience Different
Winchester is ideally placed for a visit to Hensting Alpacas at Itchen Valley Country Park — just 20–25 minutes along the M3 corridor, with direct access via the A335 through Eastleigh. For Winchester residents and visitors looking for a unique outdoor experience in Hampshire, Itchen Valley Country Park is a natural choice — the park occupies the upper reaches of the same River Itchen that flows through the heart of Winchester itself, giving the whole visit a genuine connection to the local landscape. Families from the SO22 and SO23 postcode areas make up a significant proportion of our visitors, and the combination of alpaca walks and Go Ape on site means a Winchester day out to Itchen Valley works for mixed-age groups across the full age range.
The Practical Details
From Winchester city centre, Itchen Valley Country Park is reached via the A335 through Eastleigh to Allington Lane, West End, SO30 3HQ — typically 20–25 minutes. Parking at the park costs from £1.30/hour. Alpaca walks are available on morning sessions (10:00am–12:00pm) throughout the week and afternoon sessions (1:30pm–3:00pm) every Friday and Saturday from late March through October. Advance booking is strongly recommended, particularly for summer and school holiday dates which fill several weeks in advance for Winchester-area families.
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
Itchen Valley Country Park, Allington Lane, West End, Southampton, SO30 3HQ. 10 min from Southampton city centre, 10 min from Eastleigh, 25 min from Winchester, 35 min from Portsmouth. Parking from £1.30/hour; free Blue Badge parking.
Ready to book? View our Alpaca Walking Winchester event page or book your walk online now. Call us on 0333 050 4012 with any questions. See all our seasonal events at Hensting Alpacas.