Over the past year, I’ve travelled across England, visiting alpaca farms and meeting the people whose lives have been quietly transformed by these gentle animals. Trudging through knee-deep mud in January on a frosty Kent morning, and later sipping elderflower cordial in the shimmering heat of a East Sussex July.
What I discovered was a small but growing alpaca community bound by a love of nature, fibre, and, quite unexpectedly, entrepreneurship.
There is something faintly magical about an alpaca. With their inquisitive eyes, impossibly soft fleece, and serene temperament, these creatures have wandered straight from the windswept Andes into the hearts of the British countryside.
Alpacas, cousins to the llama, were once considered an exotic novelty on British farms. But no longer. There are now over 45,000 alpacas registered in the UK, according to the British Alpaca Society, and the number is rising. Their appeal? It’s threefold: lifestyle, livelihood, and love.
“I sometimes wonder if I should call it therapy on four legs,” said Claire Brown, owner of Weald View Alpacas in East Sussex, as we watched a group of yearlings pronk across a buttercup-filled paddock. “They have a calming presence.”
Claire has had alpacas for several years. What began as an idea during maternity leave has grown into an emerging business. “It’s not just about farming,” she explained. “It’s about lifestyle. About slowing down. And people are craving that more than ever.”
Who’s buying Alpacas? Contrary to what you might think, alpacas aren’t the preserve of wealthy landowners. Among the owners I met were a retired primary school teacher in Shropshire, a young couple who swapped city life for a five-acre plot near Derby, and a former fashion buyer who now dyes and spins alpaca fibre in Somerset.
Alpaca owners tend to fall into one of three categories:
- Lifestyle Keepers – those wanting a peaceful smallholding and a few animals to enjoy;
- Breeders and Fibre Farmers – focusing on genetic lines, fleece quality, and herd development;
- Experience Entrepreneurs – offering trekking, therapy visits, glamping stays, and educational days.
“There’s no ‘typical’ alpaca owner anymore,” said Tom Hartley, who runs a farm near York with his husband. “We get people from all walks of life asking about them. We had a family from Birmingham come down last summer and by autumn they had four alpacas and a whole new routine.”
Though few get rich keeping alpacas, there is surprising financial potential. High-quality breeding stock can fetch thousands of pounds. Fleece, particularly from fine-boned Huacayas, is prized by artisan weavers and knitters. Some farms are now partnering with luxury clothing brands.
Then there’s agritourism. “The trekking side of the business pays for everything else,” said Leanne Mitchell, who runs a herd of 23 alpacas in the Peak District. “We’re booked solid all summer. Hen parties, kids’ birthdays, corporate wellbeing retreats, alpacas are the new yoga.”
Even more interesting is their growing role in animal-assisted therapy. Their calm energy makes them ideal for work in schools and care homes, helping individuals with autism, anxiety, and PTSD.
Life with alpacas isn’t all sunshine and skipping crias. In winter, fields can churn to sludge, water troughs freeze, and feeding becomes a daily grind. “They don’t like wet feet,” Claire Brown warned, laughing as we both wrestled with a reluctant male needing a toenail trim. “And neither do I.”
But in summer, it’s another world: alpacas humming softly in the grass, children feeding them from buckets, and fleece so light and clean it practically spins itself.
Before you rush to buy your own herd, consider this:
- Land: You’ll need at least 1–2 acres for a few alpacas, with shelter and secure fencing.
- Companionship: Alpacas must be kept in groups (minimum of three).
- Costs: Budget for quality feed, vet care, shearing (once a year), and shelter.
- Breeding: Know your bloodlines if you plan to breed, poor choices can lead to health issues.
- Handling: They’re not pets. Alpacas don’t like to be cuddled, and trust is built over time.
- Business Planning: If you’re aiming for income, fleece, trekking, or breeding – plan carefully, and speak to experienced owners.
- Shearing and Vets: Book early. Shearers get busy in late spring, and alpacas require specialist veterinary knowledge.
Alpacas won’t solve your problems. They won’t mow your lawn, either – they nibble gently, rather than graze. But they will change you. They’ll teach you patience, presence, and the quiet joy of watching a baby cria take its first wobbly steps at sunrise.
And in a world that often feels too fast, too digital, and too loud, perhaps that’s the real value of an alpaca.
Thinking of getting alpacas? The British Alpaca Society offers free resources and a directory of accredited breeders. Also consider joining the South East Alpaca Group, a volunteer group affiliated with the BAS, who support alpaca and llama enthusiasts across the South East of England.