J and J Alpacas

The moment you walk into J and J Alpacas, you're met with the sight of these lanky, curious creatures ambling towards you with their heads held high. It's not what you'd expect to find near Newark, but here it is - a proper alpaca farm where you can get up close with the animals, feed them, and generally have a daft time trying to pronounce their names correctly.

What makes this place work is how straightforward it is. You're not paying for fancy facilities or themed attractions - you're paying to interact with alpacas in a working farm setting. The animals are friendly enough, and there's something genuinely calming about standing among them, even if they do spit if you're not careful. Most visits run to about an hour or so, which is the right length before the novelty wears thin.

Families with young children will get the most mileage here, though teenagers who aren't too cool for it can have a laugh as well. It's the sort of place that works brilliantly as a half-day activity when you're based at one of the nearby glamping spots - Witham Grange and Lincolnshire Glamping at Spire View Meadow are both within a few miles and absolutely top-rated. Once you've done the alpacas, you can head back to base for the evening without feeling like you've driven halfway across England for the experience.

Check ahead for opening times and admission costs, as these aren't always obvious online. Worth a detour if you're staying locally and want something a bit different.