Dassett Alpacas - Walks & Encounters

Alpacas. Soft, curious, slightly ridiculous-looking alpacas. That's what you're coming to Dassett for, and honestly, it works. This Warwickshire spot near Banbury lets you get up close with the animals - walks through the paddocks, encounters where they'll happily munch from your hand if you're brave enough. It's low-key stuff, but proper engaging if you've got kids who aren't yet tired of animals, or if you're the sort of adult who finds their company oddly soothing.

The walks themselves are gentle. You're not scaling hills or doing anything strenuous - just ambling around fields while these long-necked characters regard you with bemused tolerance. Allow a couple of hours maximum; any longer and even the most dedicated alpaca fan will start checking their phone.

It works well as a half-day slot during a park holiday in the area. Mount Farm Park and Fir Tree Campsite are both within a couple of miles, so you could easily combine it with other bits of Warwickshire if the weather's decent. On a grey day though, this'll feel a bit thin - alpacas in drizzle lose some of their appeal.

Small children and animal-obsessed teenagers will get the most out of it. Adults without kids might find twenty minutes quite enough. Check ahead for opening times and whether you need to book encounters - details aren't easy to pin down, which is a bit typical of smaller attractions like this.