A family-friendly alpaca trek high on the Causeway Coast near Coleraine and Portrush — you lead your own fluffy alpaca along a hilltop with the sea, the mountains and Mussenden Temple laid out below.
What you'll do — meet your alpaca, pop on its head-collar and lead it yourself on a walk through the fields, with time to get to know it and take plenty of photos. Three experiences to choose from: the Alpaca Trek, the Alpaca Picnic, and the Dusk Walk.
The setting — the farm sits high on the hills above the north coast, so the walk comes with panoramic views — the sea, the Donegal hills, Mussenden Temple and, on the dusk walk, a sweep said to run from the Glens of Antrim to the Sperrins.
How long — the Alpaca Trek and Picnic are about an hour each; the Dusk Walk runs around 1.5 to 2 hours for the sunset.
Cost — Alpaca Trek £25pp, Alpaca Picnic £12.50pp, Dusk Walk £45pp. There are discounted rates for a family or group of four or more — confirm the current prices when you book.
Best for — families, couples and groups; a gentle, hands-on day out that suits a wide range of ages. Groups are kept small (roughly 7 on a trek, up to 20 on a picnic).
Pre-booked only. This isn't a walk-in — you book a time slot online first on northcoastalpacas.co.uk, or ring ahead on 07709 430517.
Wear sturdy shoes. You're walking on grass and hillside that can be uneven and muddy after rain — boots or trainers you don't mind getting mucky are the way to go.
Plan your visit
Book your alpaca ahead of time
North Coast Alpacas runs on pre-booked experiences, so pick your date and time slot online before you travel. The Alpaca Trek (£25pp) is a roughly one-hour walk where you lead your own alpaca through the fields; the Alpaca Picnic (£12.50pp) is a gentler hour with a picnic and an alpaca alongside you; and the Dusk Walk (£45pp) is a longer 1.5-to-2-hour sunset walk for the big evening views. Groups are kept small so everyone gets time with the animals. There are discounted rates for a family or group of four or more, and the best way to check the current prices, availability and any age or weather guidance is the official site or a quick phone call before you set off.
Panoramic sea & mountain viewsSmall guided groupsParking on siteBook online in advance
Worth knowing:
Experiences run to booked time slots and can fill up, especially at weekends and for the dusk walk. It's an outdoor, working farm on the hills, so treks may be affected by the weather — book ahead on northcoastalpacas.co.uk and check the day before, or ring 07709 430517.
Before you set off
What to wear & bring
👟Sturdy shoes or bootsYou're on grass and hillside that can be uneven and muddy after rain — trainers or boots you don't mind getting mucky are ideal.
🧥A coat, whatever the sky's doingIt's high and open, so it can be breezy up top. A coat means a bit of rain or wind only adds to the adventure.
📷A camera or phoneBetween the alpacas and the panoramic views, this is one of the most photogenic hours you'll spend on the coast.
🧢A hat & water on bright daysThe fields are open with little shade, so on a sunny evening a hat and a drink keep the walk a joy from start to finish.
Good to know
Everything before you go
Experiences & cost
Alpaca Trek — about a 1-hour walk leading your own alpaca, £25 per person. Alpaca Picnic — a 1-hour picnic alongside an alpaca, £12.50 per person. Dusk Walk — a 1.5-to-2-hour sunset walk, £45 per person. Discounted rates apply for a family or group of four or more. Confirm the current prices when you book.
Booking
Pre-booked only — choose a date and time slot online on the official website, or ring ahead. Groups are kept small (roughly 7 people on a trek, up to 10 on the dusk walk and up to 20 on a picnic), so it's worth booking early for weekends and the dusk walk.
What you'll do
Meet your alpaca, fit its head-collar and lead it on a walk through the hilltop fields, with time to get to know it and take photos. It's hands-on and gentle rather than fast-paced.
The views
The farm sits high above the north coast, so the walks look out over the sea, the Donegal hills and Mussenden Temple, with the dusk walk taking in a wide sweep of the coast and countryside at sunset.
Best for
Families, couples and groups. A calm, hands-on outdoor experience that suits a wide range of ages — check with the farm on the minimum age for younger children when you book.
Getting around
It's a working farm on hilly ground, so the walking is over grass and slopes that can be uneven and muddy after rain. If anyone in your group has specific access needs, it's worth a quick call ahead to check what's manageable on the day.
Parking
Parking is available on site at the farm on Ballylagan Road.
Dogs
As a working alpaca farm, it's best to check directly before bringing a dog — ring ahead to ask.
How long
Allow around an hour for the trek or picnic, or 1.5 to 2 hours for the dusk walk, plus a little time either side to arrive, meet your alpaca and take photos.
Questions
Before you go
Do I need to book?
Yes — this is a pre-booked experience, not a walk-in. Choose your date and time slot online on northcoastalpacas.co.uk, or ring 07709 430517 to book. Weekends and the dusk walk fill up, so book ahead.
What experiences can I do?
Three: the Alpaca Trek (about an hour leading your own alpaca, £25pp), the Alpaca Picnic (a 1-hour picnic with an alpaca alongside, £12.50pp), and the Dusk Walk (a 1.5-to-2-hour sunset walk, £45pp). There are discounted rates for a family or group of four or more.
Is it good for children?
It's a gentle, hands-on family experience and children generally love leading the alpacas. There may be a minimum age or a note about younger children on the trek, so it's worth checking with the farm when you book.
Do I actually lead the alpaca myself?
Yes — you're given your own alpaca and its head-collar, and you lead it on the walk with the guide alongside. There's time to get to know your alpaca and take plenty of photos.
What should I wear?
Sturdy shoes or boots you don't mind getting muddy, and a coat — it's a hilltop working farm, so the ground can be uneven and wet after rain, and it can be breezy up top. On bright evenings a hat and water are handy as there's little shade.
What happens if the weather's bad?
It's an outdoor experience, so treks can be affected by the weather. Check the day before, and if you're unsure get in touch with the farm ahead of your slot.
Getting there
33 Ballylagan Road, Portrush, Co. Antrim — up on the hills of the Causeway Coast, a short run from Coleraine, Portrush and Portstewart, with parking on site. It's rural and elevated, so follow the venue's directions when you book.
There's a particular kind of calm that comes from walking beside an alpaca. They're curious, gentle and quietly comical, and once you've got your own on its lead and set off across the fields, the pace of the day drops to something lovely. That's the whole idea at North Coast Alpacas — a family-run experience up on the hills of the Causeway Coast, where you don't just look at the animals, you lead one.
The setting does a lot of the work. The farm sits high enough that the walk opens out onto the sea, the Donegal hills and Mussenden Temple, with the patchwork of coastal farmland rolling away below. Time a Dusk Walk right and the whole coast turns gold as the sun goes down, with a sweep the farm reckons runs from the Glens of Antrim across to the Sperrins. It makes an ordinary hour feel like a small event.
It suits all sorts — a family looking for something hands-on, a couple after a different kind of evening, a group marking an occasion. Groups are kept small, so there's real time with the animals rather than a quick pat and off. Book your slot, wear shoes you don't mind getting mucky, bring a coat, and give yourself over to an hour of alpacas and one of the best views on the north coast.