Bardsea Alpacas and Llamas is a Cumbrian experience with a difference and if you’re visiting the Lake District, take a trip away from the tourists for this not to be missed day out
There’s more to Cumbria than you’d expect
There’s no denying the Lake District is one of the most popular holiday destinations here in the UK.
From the majestic and ever popular Windermere to the atmospheric Derwent Water, year after year millions of tourists flock to Cumbria to take in the splendour and beauty of the landscape and chocolate box villages.
But with the stunning scenery and quaint villages comes another problem – especially in the school summer holidays – overcrowding from the sheer volume of tourists.
What you think will be an idyllic trip to, arguably, the most beautiful part of Britain can quickly turn into a race to find the last table at the cafe or the last spot to pop your picnic blanket down on the shore of a lake.
However, the Lake District isn’t all Cumbria has to offer – full disclaimer I was born and bred in this county – and if you step outside the National Park, a world of wonder could be waiting for you.
I spent the weekend in Cumbria and found one of these hidden gems, the Bardsea Alpacas and Llamas, nestled close to the picture perfect village of Bardsea in the Furness area of Cumbria.
Run by local couple, Ste and Laura, this is home to one of the largest herds of alpacas and llamas in Cumbria (and this year, also home to 13 baby alpacas, known as crias). It’s clear from the get go this is a real labour of love and passion project for the dedicated couple.
Once a day, the farm is open for pre-booked visits – either a walking experience, or a feed and meet – and after taking part I can honestly say this tops anything I’ve done in this wonderful county.
Since acquiring their first alpacas in 2019, Ste and Laura now have an impressive herd of 53 and you can tell these animals are absolutely adored. The farm is only open to the public on a booked experience, held just once a day to make sure everyone gets plenty of time with these lovely creatures and – most importantly – the animals themselves are happy.
I was given the walking experience as a Christmas present – this one will be hard to beat – and before we set off we were carefully matched with the alpaca or llama best suited to each person.
I was lucky enough to be paired with Rocky, a five-year-old fawn alpaca, described as “cheeky” but was the goodest boy you could ever meet.
Both alpacas and llamas are incredibly calm and placid animals who love nothing more than a gentle guided stroll through through the lush farmland, with many stops so you can give them treats – all included in the price of the experience. It’s fair to say Rocky loved his snacks (and I loved feeding them to him).
The sun was shining and it was an utterly idyllic experience. If you think the end of the walk would be the end of the experience, you would be wrong. Next you have some time interacting and feeding the boys of the herd – they’re kept separate from the ladies for obvious reasons – and it was unbelievably joyful.
Then, off we went to meet the ladies of the herd for another wonderful time feeding and watching them as they strolled around their huge home. We could also get up close to the babies (crias) although there’s a strict no touch policy until they’re old enough to be comfortable around humans. Animal welfare is paramount for Ste and Laura, who hold a 5-star animal welfare licence.
The couple explained the alpacas and llamas really enjoy their once a day visits from humans – they love the gentle walk and, in my experience, they clearly love the treats.
If you’re lucky enough to be visiting Cumbria this summer – or indeed at any time, other than the few months the farm is closed completely to visitors in the depths of winter – this needs to be top of your list. Quiet, off the beaten track, something completely different and absolutely enchanting.
For more information about booking an experience at Bardsea Alpacas and Llamas, please visit the website.