A small, family-run alpaca farm near Carrowdore where you meet the herd, then walk your own alpaca along a forest-grove trail to a quiet woodland picnic grove.
What you'll do — spend time meeting the female alpaca herd along with the goats, sheep and chickens, then, on the trek, lead one of the boys on a field-and-forest walk through their two-acre wooded trail, finishing at The Grove, a picnic spot in the trees.
The animals — a friendly herd of alpacas plus farmyard goats, sheep and chickens. All walks are guided, in a calm, gentle set-up that suits children and adults alike.
How long — the farm visit runs about an hour; the farm visit plus alpaca trek runs about an hour and a half.
Cost — around £5 per person for the farm visit, or about £20 per person for the visit plus alpaca trek. Confirm the current rate when you book.
Come ready — sturdy shoes or wellies for the fields and the woodland trail, and a coat whatever the sky's doing; the walk is on farm ground and through the trees.
Pre-booked only. This is a working family farm, not a walk-in attraction — book ahead on eastwellfarm.co.uk or message the farm before you travel.
Small groups. Visits are kept small and personal, so spaces are limited — book early for the day you want.
Plan your visit
Book ahead — every visit is pre-arranged
Eastwell Farm is a small family farm, so a visit is booked in advance rather than a turn-up-and-pay day out — that's part of what keeps it calm and unhurried. There are two ways to go: the farm visit (around £5 per person, about an hour) is time spent meeting the alpaca herd and the goats, sheep and chickens; the farm visit plus alpaca trek (around £20 per person, about an hour and a half) adds the walk itself, where you lead one of the alpacas out through the fields and along the wooded forest trail to The Grove picnic area in the trees. Groups are kept small and personal. Book on the farm's own website, or message them to sort a time and confirm the current prices.
Guided throughoutWoodland forest trailThe Grove picnic areaParking on site
Worth knowing:
Prices, times and what's on can change with the seasons, and spaces are limited. Always confirm the current price and book your slot on eastwellfarm.co.uk, or message the farm, before you set off.
Before you set off
What to wear & bring
👢Sturdy shoes or welliesIt's a working farm and the trek goes through fields and woodland, so feet find the soft ground — leave the good trainers at home.
🧥A coat, whatever the sky's doingMost of the visit is outdoors and the forest trail is lovely in any weather — a shower under the trees just makes the grove feel cosier.
💧Water and a hat on bright daysSome of the farm is open ground with less shade — a hat, some water and the shade of the trees keep a sunny day the joy it should be.
📷Your cameraAn alpaca on a lead in the woods is a photo you'll want — the forest grove is made for it.
Good to know
Everything before you go
Cost
Around £5 per person for the farm visit (about an hour), or about £20 per person for the farm visit plus alpaca trek (about an hour and a half). Prices can change, so confirm the current rate when you book.
Booking
Pre-booked only — this is a small family farm, not a walk-in attraction. Book through eastwellfarm.co.uk or message the farm to arrange a time. Spaces are limited and kept to small groups.
What you'll do
Meet the female alpaca herd along with the goats, sheep and chickens. On the trek, lead one of the alpacas out through the fields and along a roughly two-acre forest trail, finishing at The Grove, a picnic area in the woodland.
Ages
Family-friendly and suitable for children accompanied by an adult. Walks are guided in a calm, gentle set-up for both children and adults.
How long
The farm visit runs about an hour; the visit plus alpaca trek runs about an hour and a half.
Dogs
Not confirmed. As a working farm with livestock, check with the farm before bringing a dog — assistance dogs are usually best arranged in advance.
Accessibility
The trek is across farm ground and a woodland trail, so terrain is uneven and can be soft or muddy underfoot. If anyone in your group has access needs, contact Andy on 07734 905152 to talk it through before booking.
Parking
Parking is on site at the farm on Ballyblack Road East.
Getting there
6 Ballyblack Road East, Carrowdore, Newtownards, BT22 2HH — on the Ards Peninsula, a short drive from Bangor and Newtownards.
Questions
Before you go
Do I need to book?
Yes — every visit is pre-arranged. It's a small family farm rather than a walk-in attraction, so book ahead on eastwellfarm.co.uk or message the farm to arrange a time and confirm the current price.
What's the difference between the visit and the trek?
The farm visit (around £5 per person, about an hour) is time meeting the alpaca herd and the goats, sheep and chickens. The visit plus alpaca trek (around £20 per person, about an hour and a half) adds the walk — you lead an alpaca out through the fields and along the forest trail to The Grove picnic area.
Is it suitable for children?
It is — the experiences are family-friendly and suitable for children accompanied by an adult. All the walks are guided, and the farm keeps things calm and gentle for children and adults alike.
What is the alpaca walk like?
You lead one of the alpacas on a lead, out across the fields and into a roughly two-acre wooded trail, finishing at The Grove — a picnic area set among the trees. It's a gentle, unhurried walk in quiet forest surroundings.
Can I bring the dog?
It's not confirmed, and as a working farm with livestock it's best to check with the farm first. Ring or message ahead, especially for an assistance dog.
When is it open?
Visits run through much of the year but are by arrangement, so there aren't fixed drop-in hours. Contact the farm to find a date and time that works and to check current prices.
Getting there
6 Ballyblack Road East, Carrowdore, Newtownards, Co. Down, BT22 2HH — on the Ards Peninsula, a short drive from Bangor and Newtownards, with parking on site.
Eastwell Farm sits in the gentle countryside near Carrowdore, a short run out from Bangor and Newtownards on the Ards Peninsula. It's a small, family-run place built around a herd of alpacas, with goats, sheep and chickens sharing the fields — the sort of farm where the pace is slow and the welcome is personal.
The heart of a visit is the walk. You meet the herd, then lead one of the alpacas out on a lead, across the fields and into a small forest trail the family have planted and made their own — roughly two acres of wooded ground that ends at The Grove, a picnic spot tucked among the trees. Alpacas are famously calm, curious company, and a slow walk with one at your side through quiet woodland is the whole point: unhurried, gentle, good for the head.
Because it's a working family farm rather than a big attraction, everything is booked ahead and kept small — which is exactly what makes it feel like a real day in the country rather than a queue. Bring sturdy shoes, leave time for the trees, and let the alpacas set the pace.