Alpacaly Ever After

An alpaca farm just outside Penrith where you can actually get up close with the animals rather than gawping at them through a fence. Alpacaly Ever After is the sort of place that works brilliantly if you've got kids who are obsessed with anything fluffy, or if you're after an afternoon that doesn't require much planning.

You'll encounter the alpacas themselves - they're genuinely entertaining to watch, with their slightly baffled expressions and the way they move. Some places let you feed them, others just let you wander about taking photos. The animals are usually curious enough to come over, which beats standing in the rain at a petting farm where everything hides in a barn.

Realistic expectation: it's an hour's activity, maybe ninety minutes if you're thorough. Don't come expecting a full day out. It works best as part of a wider Penrith-based break rather than a main event. Timing-wise, visit when it's dry - alpacas in drizzle are less charming, and you'll be trudging through mud.

If you're staying at one of the nearby parks - Beckses is just under a mile away, while Ullswater Holiday Park is close enough for a morning visit - it's a decent option for that day when everyone's had enough of fell walks. The proximity to Penrith means you can easily combine it with proper attractions or a decent pub lunch in town.