Pennine Lodge Alpacas

You'll find a working alpaca farm just outside Bishop Auckland where you can actually get up close with the animals rather than gawping at them through a fence. Pennine Lodge Alpacas lets you feed and handle these oddly dignified creatures - and yes, they do spit, but only if provoked. The handlers know their stuff and won't let chaos ensue.

It's genuinely good fun for families with children old enough to follow instructions without trying to climb on the beasts. Adults find it weirdly therapeutic. A visit typically takes ninety minutes to two hours, depending on how long you linger and how many photos you need for Instagram.

The farm sits well within reach of Westgate Caravan & Camping Site just down the road, making it a natural half-day activity if you're basing yourself there. The nearby White House & Hagg Bridge site works too, though it's a bit further out. Both parks put you in good striking distance of the Durham Dales without being too remote.

Timing matters here. Go early on a quiet weekday if you want a calmer experience with the animals. Bank holiday weekends tend to bring the chaos. The farm itself sits in proper countryside, so the drive there is half the appeal - rolling hills and proper stone villages.

Check ahead before visiting - contact details seem thin on the ground online, so ringing ahead saves a wasted trip. It's worth doing if alpacas appeal to you, though it's not the sort of thing that'll keep teenagers entertained for long.