Trek with alpacas and llamas in UK spot people are ‘just discovering’ | UK | Travel

Yorkshire boasts numerous picturesque locations, and one particular outdoor spot is gaining traction among wildlife and nature enthusiasts.

At the heart of Crosspool, Sheffield lies Holly Hagg, a not-for-profit community farm offering a unique experience – alpaca trekking. Not commonly found in Britain, these charming animals with a luxurious fleece originate from South America, and as AlpacaSeller.com reports, they are ‘quite rare in the UK.’

Salma Masrour, a travel and fashion influencer from London, documented her Holly Hagg adventure on TikTok, where she delightedly strolled and hand-fed several alpacas. She expressed her joy in the video’s caption: “This was by far my favourite activity in Sheffield. It was such a beautiful trek and Greffin was such a good boy.”

Since its upload on March 23, Salma’s video has garnered over 5,000 likes and numerous comments, with viewers expressing surprise about this hidden gem in Sheffield. The two most-liked comments are “didn’t even know this existed in Sheffield” and “I had no idea this was in Sheffield.”

Holly Hagg Community Farm offers those wanting to venture out the opportunity to lead their “gorgeous” alpacas and llama on walks across the leafy trails of Rivelin Valley and country lanes nearby, as per its website. However, prospective visitors are advised that a moderate level of fitness is needed due to the rough terrain and potentially tricky conditions underfoot.

The trek takes around an hour and a half and commences with an introduction to the alpaca herd. Visitors are taught how to feed the animals by hand and receive a safety briefing before being paired with an alpaca.

Holly Hagg’s experienced guides lead guests through the picturesque landscapes and woodlands surrounding the farm, with ample opportunities for feeding, admiring the views, and taking photos, as per the website. Holly Hagg Community Farm was awarded the TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Award in 2023 as the top attraction in Sheffield.

After viewing the alpacas in Salma’s brief TikTok video, viewers expressed their desire to visit the farm, leaving comments such as “this is so wholesome” and “they are so cute.” According to Inca Alpaca, there are around 45,000 registered alpacas in the UK.

AlpacaSeller.com suggests that due to the alpaca’s relative rarity in the UK and their slow breeding rate, they are considered a valuable animal. The website states that a breeding female can be purchased for anywhere between £2,000 and a five-figure sum for top show quality stock, with stud males fetching similar prices.

It also mentions that young male alpacas and wethers (castrated males) can be bought starting from around £500. AlpacaSeller.com sheds light on the fascinating world of alpacas, revealing that there are two distinct breeds: hucaya and suri.

The site details: “The Suri alpaca, of which there are very few in the UK, has a fleece with long ‘dreadlocks’ which hang loose and long. Huacaya (pronounced wakaya) alpacas have fibre which is shorter and denser. Ninety five percent of alpacas worldwide are huacaya.”

For those eager to embark on an alpaca trekking adventure at Holly Hagg Community Farm, it’s essential to secure your spot by booking tickets online in advance through their website.