Meet Our Friendly Alpacas
A Unique Highland Experience at Essich Park
Make your Highland getaway even more memorable with the chance to meet our wonderful herd of alpacas at Essich Park.
Set among the beautiful countryside just outside Inverness, our farm is home to a friendly and inquisitive herd, each with their own unique personality.
Whether you're hand-feeding the alpacas, joining them for a gentle countryside walk or simply watching their entertaining antics from a distance, spending time with these charming animals is a wonderful part of the Essich Park experience.
Our Alpaca Experiences
Alpaca Feeding Experience
Get up close to our friendly herd
There's something truly special about meeting an alpaca face to face — especially when they're eagerly waiting for a tasty treat!
Our feeding experience offers the opportunity to meet the herd, discover their individual personalities and enjoy feeding them in their familiar farm surroundings.
During your experience, you'll have the opportunity to:
- Meet our friendly and inquisitive alpacas
- Hand-feed the herd using specially provided alpaca food
- Learn more about the animals and life on our Highland farm
- Take memorable photographs of your visit
- Enjoy a unique countryside experience
It's a lovely addition to your Highland holiday and an opportunity to create some wonderful memories.
Booking: This experience can be added when booking your accommodation at Essich Park, subject to availability.
Alpaca Trekking Experience
Take a walk on the fluffy side!
For something a little different, join our alpacas for a gentle guided walk around Essich Park.
Our 30-minute trekking experience gives you the opportunity to spend time with these fascinating animals while enjoying the beautiful surroundings of our Highland farm.
During your experience:
- Meet your alpaca walking companions
- Enjoy a guided countryside walk lasting approximately 30 minutes
- Walk alongside a minimum of two alpacas
- Hand-feed the alpacas during your experience
- Capture some fantastic photographs along the way
- Discover more about the animals and their personalities
With fresh Highland air, beautiful countryside surroundings and some wonderfully entertaining walking companions, it's an experience you won't soon forget.
Duration: Approximately 30 minutes
Booking: Alpaca trekking can be added as an extra when booking your Essich Park accommodation, subject to availability.
Meet the Herd
Our Alpaca Story
Our alpaca adventure began in May 2022, when six female alpacas arrived at Essich Park: Iona, Jill, Lima, Lottie, Pollaidh and Patsy.
What started with six girls has grown into a much-loved breeding herd, bringing plenty of personality, entertainment and occasional mischief to farm life.
Over the years, we've welcomed several baby alpacas, known as cria, who have become much-loved members of the Essich Park family.
Some of our home-born alpacas include:
| Name | Year Born |
|---|---|
| Aonach | 2022 |
| Bonnie | 2023 |
| Beau | 2023 |
| Charlie | 2024 |
| Coco | 2024 |
| Cassie | 2024 |
| Dixie | 2026 |
| Darcie | 2026 |
| Daisie | 2026 |
Each alpaca has its own personality. Some are naturally curious and love investigating what's going on around the farm, while others prefer to take life at their own pace.
Getting to know their individual characters is one of the things we enjoy most about caring for them.
Did You Know?
Baby alpacas are called cria, and adult alpacas communicate using a variety of sounds, including a distinctive gentle humming noise.
Their fleece is also incredibly soft and valued for making beautiful natural yarns and textiles.
We hope to introduce a selection of handmade items using fleece from our own alpacas in the future.
Planning Your Alpaca Experience
To help you enjoy your visit, we recommend wearing comfortable outdoor clothing and sturdy footwear suitable for walking on grass and uneven farm ground.
As these experiences take place outdoors with live animals, activities may be adjusted depending on weather, ground conditions and the wellbeing of the herd.
Children should be supervised by a responsible adult, and guests should follow the guidance provided during their experience.
How to Book
Staying at Essich Park?
You can add an Alpaca Feeding Experience or Alpaca Trekking Experience when booking your farm accommodation through our website.
If you've already booked your stay and would like to add an experience, please contact us to enquire about availability.
All experiences are subject to availability and should be arranged in advance.
More Than Just a Place to Stay
At Essich Park, we love sharing a little of our Highland farm life with guests.
Our alpacas are a big part of what makes this place special, and we hope that meeting them becomes one of the highlights of your stay.
Come and meet the herd — we can't promise they'll pose for every photograph, but they'll certainly give you something to smile about!