Looking to swap pavements for pastures? Well, you’re in luck, and you needn’t travel far to do so. Meadowcroft Farm provides an immediate reset from the relentless rush of city life by making friends with alpacas and more. At the farm, you can spend time actively engaging with livestock, replacing standard routines with chaotic, highly interactive feeding sessions and countryside walks.
Located near Bury in Greater Manchester, Meadowcroft Farm hosts hands-on encounters that abandon the traditional zoo format. Visitors take the reins directly, leading alpacas across the rural landscape with lake views, before returning to the main enclosures to feed the cute, cuddly creatures.
Give Andean alpacas a cool down
With alpacas being physically adapted to the freezing temperatures of the Andes, they require assistance regulating their body heat on warmer days. Visitors to Meadowcroft Farm can get involved by grabbing a hose to spray the herd on a summer’s day. The mammals actively lean into the cold stream, often stepping into a dedicated paddling pool to splash around and lower their core temperatures.
More than just alpacas: scaling goats and head-perching hens
Meadowcroft Farm is not only home to alpacas but also to some farmyard animals. The site’s goats operate with extreme food motivation, meaning hand-feeding can quickly escalate as the herd uses people as climbing frames to get to their treats. Visitors simply have to surrender to the chaos as the goats clamber over laps and shoulders.
Interactions with the chickens follow a similar unpredictable pattern. People have the chance to hold the chickens, but the birds frequently take matters into their own claws. They are super friendly and may flutter upward to perch directly on top of visitors’ heads.
How much does the Meadowcroft Farm alpaca experience cost, and how to book
You can take your own alpaca for a walk for £25 per person, and it’s super hands-on and an unforgettable experience. Then you can hang out with the goats for just £5 per person, getting up close and feeding them.
You must book beforehand by contacting the Meadowcroft Farm team here.
📍Meadowcroft Farm, Slaidburn Drive, Bury, BL8 3DG