Brackenfield Alpacas Trek Review near matlock

BySteffan Updated on

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After spending years exploring the Peak District with a camera in hand, I’ve become very selective about the animal experiences I recommend.

I’m extremely passionate about animal welfare and ethical tourism, and over the years I’ve volunteered with animals in different parts of the world.

Because of that, I’m always paying attention to how animals are treated, how much space they have, and whether a place genuinely feels calm and well cared for rather than designed purely for tourists.

After spending time in some of the busier parts of the Peak District, visiting Brackenfield Alpacas was a breath of fresh air. Especially considering I visited on the dreaded busy bank holiday weekend!

Close up of a brown and white alpaca with fluffy fleece standing in a sunlit meadow filled with yellow wildflowers. Other alpacas graze in the background, showcasing the peaceful countryside setting at Brackenfield Alpacas.

A Slower Side of the Peak District

The moment I arrived at Brackenfield Alpacas, everything immediately felt calmer.

Instead of traffic noise and packed pavements, there were birds singing in the hedgerows and alpacas quietly grazing across the fields. A narrow grass path led through the farm with countryside views stretching across the surrounding hills.

It’s the kind of place where you naturally slow down without even realising it. And speaking of slow that’s exactly what the walk was like.

Initially after seeing Alpaca trekking I imagined a long walk around the hills. But it was very much down to the alpacas when and where you go 😂

Most of the time they just wanted to hang about and graze. Which was fine by me. They were very happy to be petted in the meantime. So I took the opportunity to indulge in stroking their fluffy backs.

Several alpacas stand in a fenced meadow covered with yellow wildflowers at Brackenfield Alpacas. The peaceful pasture is surrounded by hedgerows and trees, with open countryside stretching into the distance beneath a blue sky.

The Alpacas Completely Steal the Show

Some of the alpacas at Brackenfield Alpacas wandered right up to the gate to investigate me, while others seemed perfectly happy lying in the long grass surrounded by yellow wildflowers.

A few had huge fluffy fringes covering their eyes, and others genuinely looked like they were posing for photos.

Curious alpacas gather around the camera at Brackenfield Alpacas, with a white alpaca featuring a fluffy fleece topknot in the foreground. The close up view highlights the variety of coat colours and textures among the herd in a sunny farm setting.

What I loved most about Brackenfield Alpacas was how peaceful the entire experience felt.

There was no pressure to rush through anything. I could just slowly wander around the fields, stop whenever I wanted, and spend time watching the alpacas interact with each other.

Grey and white alpaca with shaggy fleece standing beside a metal farm gate at Brackenfield Alpacas. The alpaca faces the camera with alert ears, framed by green hedgerows and a sunny countryside pasture in the background.

After a busy few days exploring popular parts of the Peak District, Brackenfield Alpacas felt like a genuine reset.

Book your experience by clicking here! 👈🏻

The Little Details Made It Feel Special

Inside the small shop area at Brackenfield Alpacas, there were handmade alpaca-themed gifts, mugs, knitted hats, notebooks, keyrings, and little souvenirs featuring the alpacas themselves.

Display table at Brackenfield Alpacas featuring handmade alpaca wool gifts and accessories. Signs read "Gloves and Mittens £15", "Keyring with Alpaca Ball £7.50", "Headbands £10", and "Hats £15", with colourful knitted items and alpaca fibre keyrings arranged for sale.

It didn’t feel overly commercial or touristy. Just a few cute items on sale that you can take home to remember this lovely experience.

My Leon magnet takes pride of place on my little fridge magnet collection!

Display board of alpaca themed souvenirs at Brackenfield Alpacas featuring photo keyrings of individual alpacas. Signs read "Keyrings £3" and "Magnets £3", with each keyring showing a named alpaca from the herd.

There was also a simple tea and coffee station set up inside, which made the whole experience feel even more welcoming and relaxed.

You can tell Brackenfield Alpacas is a place where the owners genuinely care about their visitor’s experience.

A Perfect Escape From Busy Matlock

If you’re staying anywhere around Matlock, Bakewell, or the wider Peak District area, Brackenfield Alpacas makes an ideal slower-paced afternoon away from the crowds.

Especially during summer, when the main tourist hotspots can become overwhelmingly busy.

Instead of packed cafés and traffic, you get peaceful countryside, quiet walking paths, and alpacas wandering through bright yellow fields beneath rolling green hills.

Rolling green countryside with a wildflower filled meadow and fenced grazing areas at Brackenfield Alpacas. Several alpacas are scattered across the pasture, surrounded by trees and gently rolling hills under a bright sky.

Is Brackenfield Alpacas Worth Visiting?

Absolutely.

Not because it’s some huge attraction with endless activities, but because Brackenfield Alpacas offers something completely different from the busier parts of the Peak District.

Cork display board at Brackenfield Alpacas featuring photos and profiles of individual alpacas from the herd. Printed labels beside each photo share the alpacas' names, ages, breeds, and family relationships, helping visitors learn more about the animals during their visit.

It’s calm.
Quiet.
Genuine.

And from an animal welfare perspective, it genuinely felt like the alpacas at Brackenfield Alpacas were being cared for properly, which made the experience even more enjoyable for me personally.

After spending the morning around crowded tourist towns, wandering through peaceful fields full of alpacas turned out to be exactly the kind of break I needed.

You can book your own Brackenfield Alpacas experience by clicking here! 👈🏻

See More of the Peak district

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Steffan, a bearded man with long, curly hair tied back, stands on a white wooden bridge holding a professional camera with a large lens. He wears a blue and green insulated jacket, a yellow bandana around his neck, and carries a black backpack with photography gear. Behind him, colorful houses in shades of pink, green, and blue are built on a hillside, with bright natural light casting a warm glow on the scene.

I’m Steffan, the founder of InWanderment, a travel and photography blog dedicated to sharing my experiences and insights from around the world.

I’m a self-taught photographer with a passion for helping others explore the outdoors through photography. My goal is to make capturing the beauty of nature feel accessible to everyone — whether you’re shooting with a professional camera or just your phone.

Now back in the UK after 18 months of travel across Asia, I’m focusing on creating new content, editing thousands of photos, and sharing everything I’ve learned along the way to inspire others to get outside and start shooting.