Cotswold Alpacas

Alpacas in the Cotswolds. It sounds like someone's fever dream, but Cotswold Alpacas is genuinely there, a few miles outside Cheltenham, and it's oddly brilliant if you've got children in tow or just fancy something completely different from the usual countryside activities.

You turn up, meet the animals - proper fluffy things with personalities that range from curious to actively aloof - and basically spend time with them. Some places let you walk them round the fields, others do photo ops or feeding sessions. It depends on the day and what they've got running. The alpacas are the real draw here; they're gentle, occasionally hilarious, and kids lose their minds for them in the best way.

It's not a massive day out - two hours maximum unless you're the sort who could stare at animals indefinitely. Families with young children get the most from it; teenagers tend to find it a bit meh. You'll want to check ahead on opening times and whether you need to book, as these things shift seasonally.

If you're basing yourself at one of the local glamping sites - Star Glamping or Big Skies are closest at under two miles - this makes a decent half-day activity to break up your holiday. Combine it with a walk round Cheltenham town centre or a proper country estate visit and you've got a decent day. Fair warning though: the novelty's real but it's not lengthy. Go in with expectations set right and you'll have fun.