Step away from the usual Saturday grind and spend a day with some gentle alpacas! Wander the fields, meet these friendly creatures up close, and enjoy a calm, fun-filled day out away from the weekend bustle at Fine Oaks Alpaca Farm in Stonefield.
Spending a morning with alpacas is truly unlike any other day out. Whether you’re strolling along the river trails, feeding the gentle, friendly creatures , or simply watching the baby alpacas bounce around the field, it’s a perfect opportunity to relax and soak up some nature as I discovered on a trip to farm recently.
The story of Fine Oaks Alpacas began in 2021, when the Kathleen decided it was time for a career change after nine years in a managerial role, she explains “I had decided to use alpacas as a form of income stream, but I never wanted to breed an animal to put them on a truck and sell them for meat,” This career change marked the beginning of something completely different, a unique and thriving alpaca adventure.
This career change started with the purchase of three pregnant alpacas, who went on to welcome two boys and a girl in 2022. “We fell in love instantly and discovered there’s a lot of scope to use them across different areas,” the owner says.
From that moment, the possibilities kept growing. Fine Oaks isn’t just a farm, it’s a full-on alpaca experience. Visitors can meet and greet friendly stars like “Willow” and “Charisma”,go on alpaca walking trails and feed and interact with the animals.
I’d heard that alpaca walking was therapeutic, something about their calm temperaments, steady rhythm, and the way being around them naturally eases stress. Well, turns out it’s true, I was completely zen within minutes, just strolling along the trails and letting the gentle alpacas set the pace.
The farm also offers family days, and special events, stud services with championship winning studs during the summer and on-site and off-site visits for weddings, providing the perfect photo opp’s for you and your significant other!
For families, groups, or anyone with limited mobility, spending time with these gentle giants is accessible, unique and incredibly relaxing.
Daily routines at Fine Oaks are thoughtfully managed to keep the alpacas happy and healthy, with nutrition taken seriously “Females who’ve had their babies get a specialised camelid feed with unmolassed sugar beet pulp to boost protein for the cria, plus they all have hay available all day long”.
Female alpacas usually give birth, called unpacking, before lunchtime or in the early afternoon. This gives the cria plenty of time to feed and get their colostrum before settling down for the night,” the owner explains.
These alpacas are full of personality, according to Kathleen “They pick their own sleeping spot, and often the cria will zoom around the field like it’s a warm-up before bed.”
From gentle strolls with alpacas by your side to friendly faces like Willow and Charisma, there’s no shortage of charm at Fine Oaks. It’s a day out that kids will love, parents will enjoy, and friends won’t forget. If you are hoping to plan your next visit or book a special event, just drop the farm an email and get ready for a day full of alpaca fun. http://www.fineoaks.ie
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