Send Message

About Ferny Rigg Alpacas

Alpaca farm offering Alpaca Walks, A fun relaxing stroll in the country with a furry dinosaur who is guaranteed to make you smile. Come and walk one of our wonderful Alpaca in the Upper North Tyne Valley situated in the Northumberland National park. The beautiful countryside is within sight of the Kielder Dam just outside the village of Falstone, close to Bellingham. The first licenced alpaca business “For the keeping or Training of Animals for Exhibition under the Animal Welfare regulations 2018 part 2” in Northumberland. Licence number NPA/59.

Contact Ferny Rigg Alpacas

Booking Policy

 Bookings can be made online through www.fernyriggalpacas.co.uk 
Ferny Rigg Alpacas do not allow additional people to walk alongside an alpaca except children between 6 and 10 or carers. This is to keep our walk group small and personal. 
If the weather is inclement, such that the experience would not be pleasant or unsafe, walks can be cancelled at short notice and re booked at a mutually convenient time. We request both an email address and phone number at booking to ensure contact. We will leave messages on one or both of these if there is a cancellation, please check as we will not be held responsible for you missing these. 
All children (under 18) must be accompanied by a responsible adult (aged 18 years +).
All people over the age of 10 walk their own alpaca except when there are additional needs where a carer is required 
Children under the age of 10 but over 6 may accompany the walk under the supervision of a responsible adult, specific ticket for this is available.
Gift vouchers must be redeemed within 12 months of the purchase date. Older post card type gift vouchers must be booked by telephone or email as the booking tool is unable to process them. 

Terms & Conditions. These are for your safety and enjoyment of our Alpacas walks Health & Safety.
There will always be a short safety briefing before meeting our alpacas. 
This starts at 10.30 am promptly. If you have missed the safety briefing by being late you will not be allowed to join the walk with no refund or rebooking. 
Anyone deliberately not adhering to the information provided in this briefing will be asked to leave the walk without compensation. 
We reserve the right to stop an alpaca walk at any time should the health and safety of the people or our animals be at risk. 
Alpacas are sensitive animals, people of all ages will need to stay quiet and calm around the alpacas and not make sudden movements or loud noises.
All our walks are supervised by a suitably trained member of our team. 
Customers are not permitted to take the animals unaccompanied or leave the group with an animal.
Young children over 6 years may be allowed to take the lead at the  walk leader’s discretion when we are in a safe situation. The responsible adult must be in charge and close at all times. The responsible adult ready to take over if there are any issues.
Alpacas may kick if they sense something close behind them. Please remain 500 mm from the animals behind. Leading from the front shoulder the alpaca cannot kick the walker.
Hand washing and toilet facilities are provided. Those who accompany children have responsibility to ensure that adequate hand washing takes place.
Please wear closed toe sturdy shoes (or wellies in the wetter months). Sandals are not suitable. We will walk in the rain, so please dress sensibly. We won’t be held responsible for any damage to shoes or clothing. This is a working farm there may be mud or animal faces on our route.
Alpacas are largely confident and curious while out walking and will enjoy looking around and meeting people. They take most things in their stride, but they don’t like confined spaces and may need some time and encouragement to deal with strange obstructions.
Sometimes if one of us slips on the gravel or breaks a twig it can startle one alpaca which startles the others, so the walker always needs to be aware of potential. Sudden movements and noisy clothing can have a similar effect. Please just stay stable and calm. They will soon settle down any issues we always have two guides one of who will be available to assist.
If stroking the alpaca, please do not touch the top of the head. If you wish to stroke the animals slow and calm movement stroking the side of the neck, approaching from the side of the animal.
An alpaca should respect your space and not nudge or nibble you, you should also respect their space. Never touch the rump, although our experienced guides may do so to encourage an alpaca to move out of danger.
Alpacas are herd animals – they stick close together for safety. If one gets left behind he may start to run to catch up. For the safety of the people at the back, the front party needs to stop and wait if a gap opens up between the alpacas. During the walk the guide will stop at opportune points allowing the group to gather, while also talking alpaca.
If you drop the lead your alpaca will stay in the group and not run off unless very alarmed. This can happen should the lead hit his front legs.
If an alpaca bolts and the walker cannot hold on do not give chase, all shall stand still until the animal stops, then a guide will recover the lead. Alpacas trust us to be calm, confident leaders. This is for both the alpaca and the walker to make sure they have fun also get to stop and admire the view when they want to or the alpaca needs a toilet stop.
Your lead has a knot at the end. This makes sure it doesn’t pull out of your hand. Hold it with both hands at all times.
Do not wrap the lead around your hand there is a risk of crushed fingers if the animal bolts. You need to be able to drop it quickly if you are in danger. Alpacas don’t like a tight lead or being dragged. If you are in danger of falling or being dragged, drop the lead.
Watch out for the lead rope getting wrapped round your alpaca’s neck. Do not attempt to flick the lead over the head, un wrap slowly.
As we are a working farm it is not possible for insurance purposes for non walkers to remain on site.
The walks are based around our farm also next doors.  There may be vehicles passing.
If a vehicle passes hold the alpaca on a very short lead off to one side.
Non of the land walked on has public right of way. There may be long grass and mud if wet along the way and you need to protect yourself from sun, rain,cold and insects. At certain times of year we occasional see adders too.
Please wear suitable shoes and be prepared to walk for about an hour unless otherwise pre arranged. Though bright white trainers are suitable they may not remain white.
The walk leader will decide which guest walks which alpaca.
The walk leader sets the route depending on the group make up. At certain times of year Alpacas don’t walk very well in a lush hay field they stop to eat and eat and eat and eat.
 This is a walk in the country, there is mud, long grass, nettles, livestock, livestock droppings, barbed wire stock fencing, dry stone walls, please follow the guidance of the risk assessment and the walk leader at all times.
Children under 6 are not allowed under normal circumstances, exception can be made for small babies in sling by prior arrangement.
It is not suitable for buggies, or people with mobility difficulties. People with mobility issues please contact us to arrange a private type bespoke experience. 
Dogs are not allowed to accompany walkers. However, guests may use our kennel if travelling with dogs by prior arrangement, though this is not suitable for very small dogs due to bar spacing’s. 
Walkers need to be alert and in charge of your alpaca at all times. However, taking photos is an important part of the experience so feel free to snap away when you are in a safe place with no obstacles, cars, horses, etc. 
We will take photos for use on our Facebook page and website to promote our activities. Please let us know if you don’t want your photo to be used. Similarly, please respect the privacy of other people when posting your own photos. 
Please refrain from using your phone during the walk as this may be annoying to other people out for a quiet walk with the alpacas.
Please wash your hands after your walk: toilets, hand washing facilities and sanitising gel are available as highlighted on arrival. 
Thank you for booking with Ferny Rigg Alpacas. Please tell your friends about your experience, share your photos and social media posts. Please tell us if there was anything we could have done better. Please also leave us a review on Trip Advisor Ferny Rigg Alpacas.  

Always remember this is an alpaca walk at "alpaca pace" which is somewhere between that of a toddler and a teenager.

Cancellation Policy