Alpacas at The Field, Dunswell

You'll know you're in for something different the moment you spot them - a herd of alpacas grazing contentedly in a Yorkshire field near Beverley. The Field at Dunswell is exactly what it sounds like: an actual working alpaca farm where you can get properly close to these long-necked, soft-furred creatures. Most visitors come for a spot of alpaca trekking or to meet the animals up close, and honestly, it's the kind of thing that sounds a bit daft until you're actually doing it. The alpacas are characterful and surprisingly engaging - they'll spit if provoked, though most are too chilled to bother. Kids absolutely lap it up, though patience is required. These aren't petting zoo alpacas; they move at their own pace. Allow a good couple of hours if you're doing a trek. The setting is quintessentially East Yorkshire - rolling farmland without much fuss or pretension. It pairs well with a base at Butt Farm Caravan, Campsite & Glamping just down the road (3.1 miles), or the five-star High Farm Holiday Park (5.7 miles away) if you want something more upmarket. Either way, you're in alpaca territory. Worth the detour if you've got a family that likes animals and doesn't need everything wrapped up in twenty minutes. The actual admission and opening hours aren't always clear online, so ring ahead before you go - nothing worse than turning up and finding the gates closed.