- Join along with one of the famous Alpaca Walks to make some new furry friends.
- Meet all the residents of the farm, from guinea pigs to ponies.
- Learn all about the animals, where they come from and much more.
- Try your hand at needle felting with onsite lessons.
If a day out in the breezy countryside is on your to-do list, you can’t go wrong with a trip to the memorable and unique Abbotts View Farm. Also known for the Abbotts View Alpacas, the farm is home to numerous fluffy residents, who are more than eager to hang out with human visitors. Animal-loving kids are sure to love this farm experience, and can even have the chance to take an alpaca on a walk.
Originating in South America, you can normally find alpacas in Peru. They have been around for thousands of years and were bred by the Incas for their high-quality fleece, which was then used to clothe royalty. Now, there are alpacas bred all over the world, including at Abbotts View Farm. The farm started as almost 23 acres of meadowland. It was then transformed into a working family eco-farm, with surrounding farmland. The off-grid location of Abbotts View Farm means it is largely self-sustaining and uses solar energy for power. Rainwater is used to feed the animals and helps the site function.
The family, as well as owning the farm and alpaca business, also live on the farm, which means you will get a very genuine and warm welcome. There are lots of animals to meet, including ponies Sapphire and Buckthorn, Pepper the dog, ducks, guinea pigs, a rabbit and of course, the alpacas! As well as walking the alpacas, you are also welcome to feed the animals with their special feed.
As the main attraction of Abbotts View Farm, the Alpaca Walks are not to be missed. Taking roughly 1.5-2 hours, this is the perfect way to spend an afternoon while learning something new. Children and adults will have the chance to walk with the alpacas and find out more about them. To start the walk, there is a brief health and safety talk, after which you will be introduced to the male alpacas. Then, you will take them for a walk around the farm, while learning lots of alpaca facts along the way. The walks themselves usually last around 45 minutes and are nice and slow. You will also get the chance to meet the rest of the alpacas and their babies, and even feed them!
For something to eat on your trip, Jo, the owner, is known for her homemade cakes. These are always on offer as well as refreshments, to keep you topped up throughout your visit. The nearby Leighton Buzzard and Aylesbury both have a great selection of cafes and restaurants if you fancy something after your trip to the farm.
Once you’ve had your alpaca walking experience, why not check out the gift shop and peruse some of the beautiful handmade gifts on offer? For some additional learning, Jo has written two fact books for kids, ‘And… are alpacas REALLY scary?!’ and ‘So… what IS an alpaca?’. These are great little gifts and are available from the farm shop or online.
If you’re really into the alpaca spirit after your trip to the farm, you can also learn how to use alpaca and sheep’s wool to needle felt your very own mini animals and decorations. Jo regularly puts on small workshops from her kitchen- all you need to take is a packed lunch! While this activity is more suitable for teenagers and adults than young children, it’s a great way to get creative and make memories.
If the kids loved their visit to Abbotts View Farm and want to meet more animal pals, make sure to add Green Dragon Eco Farm in Hogshaw to your list, where you might even spot a wallaby or silver fox. Or, Odds Farm in High Wycombe is brilliant for a drive-in ‘moo-vie’ night, or the opportunity to collect your own eggs!
What to know before you go
- While Abbotts View Farm is open, certain amendments have been made to the way the Farm functions.
- Alpaca Walks are continuing for the time being, but are limited to six places, or more depending on the size of your family or social ‘bubble’. Tickets must be booked in advance. For now, external alpaca visits and private visitors will be asked to wash their hands on arrival, and social distancing will be in place. Animals can be fed, but using feeding trays rather than by hand. You can also still enjoy some homemade cakes, but they will be to take home once the walk is finished. Needle felting workshops are also not running currently.
- Alpaca Walks are on Saturdays and Sundays at 11am and 2pm and run from March to October. They are recommended for children aged 6+ and adults. Please note that walks don’t take place every weekend and book up quickly, so make sure you check what is available in advance. A paying adult must accompany children under 16.
- Since Abbott View Farm is a private farm and home, it isn’t open every day so you must book your visit in advance.
- Toilets are available on site.
- The terrain is not suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs. There is no charge for babies being held though, so there is the option to leave the pushchair behind for the walk itself.
- Every Alpaca walk ticket also includes homemade refreshments and a tour of the farm.
Getting there
- Abbotts View Farm is located near Aston Abbotts in Buckinghamshire.
- The nearest train stations are Leighton Buzzard, Cheddington or Aylesbury, depending on the direction you are travelling from.
- Buses are running between Leighton Buzzard and Aylesbury that regularly stop at The Green. Then it is a short 13-minute walk to Abbott View Farm.
