REVIEW · SCOTLAND
Fun and Educational Alpaca Experience in the Scottish Borders
Book on Viator →Operated by Beirhope Alpacas · Bookable on Viator
Alpacas in the Scottish Borders sound like a daydream. This Meet-A-Paca experience at Beirhope Alpacas puts you right in the Cheviot Hills for close-up time with friendly alpacas, plus an alpaca expert talk and lots of photo moments.
I especially like the hand-feeding part. You get alpaca treats supplied by the team, so you’re not guessing what to do once you arrive, and it’s perfect for kids who want to interact fast. The other big win is the small group size (up to 14), which makes it feel personal without turning into a long, formal lesson.
The main drawback is simple: it’s weather-dependent. If conditions are poor, the experience can be canceled, and the session itself is about 1 hour, so it’s not a half-day outing if you’re looking for more time outdoors.
In This Review
- Key things that make Meet-a-Paca work so well
- Beirhope Alpacas and the Cheviot Hills setting
- What happens in your 1-hour Meet-a-Paca session
- Hand-feeding alpacas: the fastest way to win their attention
- Selfie time and why the photos matter here
- The resident alpaca expert talk: fun learning with real context
- Do you also get an alpaca walk?
- Small group size (max 14) and the vibe it creates
- Price and value: about $41 for a full animal encounter
- Weather matters more than you think
- Family fit: why it works for kids, grandparents, and mobility needs
- Small extras that can make your hour feel longer
- Where to go: the meeting point in Kelso area
- Should you book Meet-a-Paca at Beirhope Alpacas?
- FAQ
- Where does Meet-a-Paca start?
- How long is the experience?
- How much does Meet-a-Paca cost?
- What do I actually do during the hour?
- How many people are in a group?
- Do I get a mobile ticket?
- What happens if the weather is bad or I cancel?
Key things that make Meet-a-Paca work so well
- Up close alpaca time in the Cheviot Hills, right at Beirhope Alpacas
- Hand-feeding with treats supplied for you
- Family-friendly format that includes selfie moments for all ages
- Alpaca expert talk from the resident specialist
- Limited group size with a maximum of 14 people
Beirhope Alpacas and the Cheviot Hills setting
Beirhope Alpacas sits in the Scottish Borders, in the heart of the Cheviot Hills area, near Hownam and Kelso (TD5 8AP). That matters because this isn’t a rushed roadside stop. The setting is part of the point: you’re going to spend your hour outdoors, meeting alpacas in a landscape that feels distinctly Borders.
This is the kind of experience that works whether you’re planning a family afternoon or a short break while touring Scotland. Even if you only have a small window of time, it still feels like you stepped into something real and local, not just a show.
You can also read our reviews of more tours and experiences in Scotland.
What happens in your 1-hour Meet-a-Paca session
This is an about 1 hour experience, starting and ending back at Beirhope Alpacas. When people say they love it, they usually mean it follows a clear rhythm that keeps everyone engaged.
You’ll meet the alpacas and get the chance to feed them by hand using treats provided by the hosts. Then you’ll get an educational talk from the resident alpaca expert. Finally, there are great photo moments, including time for an alpaca selfie.
A big strength here is the pacing. It’s not structured like a classroom lecture where you’re stuck standing and waiting. It’s structured like an animal encounter with a talk woven in, so kids and adults stay interested.
Hand-feeding alpacas: the fastest way to win their attention
Hand-feeding is where most of the emotion shows up. Alpacas have a calm, curious vibe, and feeding them gives you a way to interact without needing any special skills.
From a practical standpoint, this is also the moment that makes the experience feel fair for all ages. The experience is specifically set up so families can connect with the animals even if some people are too young to walk alongside or unable to walk long distances. That’s a big deal. It means you’re not forced into an activity that only works for the fastest or most mobile in the group.
If you’re worried about whether it’ll be awkward, don’t. The treats are supplied, and the whole format is built around you knowing what to do when you’re standing there with an alpaca in front of you. You’ll also want to lean into the calm, because these animals move at their own pace.
Selfie time and why the photos matter here
The alpaca selfie mention might sound like a throwaway detail, but it’s really about giving you the right kind of memory. When you’re that close to animals, you want the camera moments to feel easy, not stressful.
Because the group is capped at 14, you’re less likely to feel like you’re fighting for a turn. That helps your photos, but it also helps the interaction itself. You’ll have space to step in, feed, and take pictures without turning the whole encounter into a queue.
Photo value goes beyond cuteness, too. It’s a way to capture the personalities people talk about. Alpacas can have individual quirks, and when you’re up close, those differences become obvious.
The resident alpaca expert talk: fun learning with real context
The educational talk is part of what makes Meet-a-Paca more than a simple petting moment. You’re not just feeding animals and leaving. You get explanations from the person running the farm and living with these animals day to day.
This matters for two reasons. First, it helps kids connect what they see (soft wool, curious behavior) to what it means. Second, it helps adults enjoy the visit without needing to research everything afterward. The whole point is to make the animals understandable in plain language during your visit.
And the talk is framed as part of the experience, not a separate add-on you have to sit through. That keeps the atmosphere light and keeps you moving with the flow.
Do you also get an alpaca walk?
Some groups describe an additional experience where they can take an alpaca for a walk as part of the visit. That’s not spelled out in the basic outline in the same way the feeding and talk are, so treat it as something you may encounter depending on how the session runs.
If you do get the walk option, it’s likely to be a big highlight. Getting your hands on the experience shifts it from watching to participating. It also changes the tempo of the visit from stationary feeding to an active encounter.
If you want that walking component, ask when you arrive or when you book so you know whether it’s included in your specific session.
Small group size (max 14) and the vibe it creates
A maximum of 14 travelers means the hosts can actually manage the flow. That’s not just comfort. It affects how the experience feels.
In a smaller group, the alpacas don’t become pressured by constant shifting bodies, and people can get a better chance to feed and interact without everyone hovering at once. It also makes the expert talk easier to follow, because your group stays manageable and the interaction doesn’t feel swallowed by a bigger crowd.
This is one of those details that signals value. The price is affordable enough that families can do it, and the group size keeps it from feeling watered down.
Price and value: about $41 for a full animal encounter
The price is listed at $41 for about 1 hour. That’s strong value for what you’re getting: hand-feeding with treats supplied, an expert talk, and photo time with alpacas in a scenic Scottish Borders farm setting.
What makes it feel like good value is that you’re paying for structured access, not just entry. You’re not walking into a random field and hoping an animal comes close. You get a planned encounter where someone guides you through the best way to interact.
Also, this is one of those activities where different people in the group can enjoy it equally. Kids can focus on feeding and photos. Adults often like the expert talk because it turns the visit into something you can understand and remember, not just something you watch.
Weather matters more than you think
This experience requires good weather. That means your plans should include a little flexibility, especially if you’re visiting Scotland in shoulder seasons or a week known for changing conditions.
If poor weather cancels the experience, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund. That’s the key practical part to remember. It’s also why it’s smart to avoid scheduling your visit as the only outdoor activity on a day when the forecast looks uncertain.
Family fit: why it works for kids, grandparents, and mobility needs
Meet-a-Paca is explicitly designed to be family-friendly. It’s ideal for all ages, including families with young children who may be too young to walk alongside the alpacas.
It’s also noted as a good fit for people who might struggle with longer distances. That matters in a Scottish day-out context, because farms can be uneven and outdoor walking can add up fast.
The overall vibe is warm and accommodating, with hosts described as patient and helpful. One account highlights that even when family members were apprehensive, the host was reassuring and took things at a pace that worked for them. That kind of calm guidance is often what turns an animal encounter from stressful into memorable.
Small extras that can make your hour feel longer
Even though the core session is about an hour, some experiences add a little extra comfort before or after.
For example, some people mention getting coffee, tea, and cake in a small bothy, and others mention hot chocolate after an alpaca walk. Those details aren’t guaranteed in the basic overview, but they do show that the farm experience can include simple hospitality that makes the visit feel complete.
If that matters to you, it’s worth asking on arrival whether there are any refreshments available as part of your session.
Where to go: the meeting point in Kelso area
You’ll start at Beirhope Alpacas, Beirhope Farm, Hownam, Kelso TD5 8AP, UK. The activity ends back at the meeting point.
Because it’s a single-site experience with a clear start and finish, you don’t need complicated route planning. It’s also easy to plug into a day based around Kelso or exploring the Borders.
You’ll receive confirmation at booking, and you’ll use a mobile ticket, which keeps things simple the day you go.
Should you book Meet-a-Paca at Beirhope Alpacas?
Book it if you want a short, high-impact animal experience in the Scottish Borders. For the time and cost, you’re getting hand-feeding, an expert talk, and photo opportunities in a small group setting. It’s especially good if you’re traveling with young kids or you want something that won’t require long walking.
Skip it (or at least be cautious) if your schedule can’t handle a weather risk. Since it depends on good conditions, plan for flexibility. Also, remember it’s about an hour, so it’s best as a focused stop rather than your only big outdoors plan of the day.
If you like practical, friendly encounters with animals in a real farm setting, Meet-a-Paca is an easy yes.
FAQ
Where does Meet-a-Paca start?
It starts at Beirhope Alpacas, Beirhope Farm, Hownam, Kelso TD5 8AP, UK, and it ends back at the same meeting point.
How long is the experience?
The duration is approximately 1 hour.
How much does Meet-a-Paca cost?
The price is listed as $41.
What do I actually do during the hour?
You meet and feed the alpacas (alpaca treats are supplied), join an educational talk from the resident alpaca expert, and have good photo opportunities including an alpaca selfie.
How many people are in a group?
The experience has a maximum of 14 travelers.
Do I get a mobile ticket?
Yes, it’s listed as a mobile ticket.
What happens if the weather is bad or I cancel?
The experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund. It’s also non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason.
