TAKE A WALK ON THE WILD SIDE IN ARDEE BOG WITH ALPACAS
THE MYLES FAMILY OF LONG ACRE ALPACAS ARE OFFERING AN UNIQUE EXPERIENCE WITH ALPACA TREKKING IN ARDEE’S BIG BOG AND GET UP CLOSE TO NATURE, WRITES MARGARET RODDY
SUMMER is the ideal time for exploring the rich natural heritage on our doorstep and what better way to do so than in the company of some exotic animals.
The Myles family from Glack, Ardee have come up with the ultimate day out which will appeal to all ages - alpaca trekking.
‘We started keeping alpacas about a year and a half ago,’ explains Catherine. ‘ We got them as we wanted something to eat the grass and then we fell in love with them.’
Having started with two alpacas, the family now have four -Harry, who is a Huacaya alpaca, and Cecil, Perkunas and Proudlock who are Suri alpacas.
‘ They are aged from two years to nine years and are more like family pets than farm animals,’ says Catherine.
Alpacas are natives of South America, found mainly in Peru but also in Bolivia and Chile. A member of the camel family, they are prized for their wool which is soft and strong. They are naturally gentle, intelligent and good with children.
They are still comparatively rare in Ireland, which gives their owners opportunities to get involved in agri-tourism ventures.
Catherine says that they came up with the idea of offering trekking through Ardee’s Big Bog when they visited K2 Alpaca Trekking in Co Wicklow.
‘We got talking to Joe Phelan who explained that he had got into alpaca trekking because he lived in an area of scenic beauty. He took us on a trek through the Wicklow mountains and as we live close to Ardee Bog, which is an area of natural beauty, we thought that we could do the same.’ Thus Long Acre Alpacas trekking was born. So what exactly is alpaca trekking? Banish any idea that it involves putting a saddle on and riding an alpaca as these are small animals.
Instead, trekkers get to lead an alpaca along paths through the wonderful environment that is Ardee’s Big Bog, which is one of the most easterly raised bogs in Ireland.
An an area of natural beauty, it is home to a host of flora and fauna such as heather and bog cotton, which with the moist conditions, creates a perfect habitat for frogs, butterflies, bees and other wildlife.
‘It’s a very relaxing experience as alpacas are such gentle animals. They actually hum when they are happy so it’s quite therapeutic being with them,’ says Catherine.
The three hour experience allows visitors to meet and greet the alpacas before setting off on the trek and there are lots of opportunities for photo opportunities.
‘We also offer a farm visit for young children or people with disabilities who wouldn’t be able to go on the trek,’ says Catherine.
The alpacas are very much part of the family. ‘Once we got the first two, we fell in love and decided to add to our herd.’
Catherine and her husband Matthew tend to the herd, feeding them hay and camelid food to supplement their diet of grass when needed.
Alpacas are low maintenance animals and can live to be twenty years of age. The Long Acre alpacas have just had their fleece shorn as they needed to be rid of their warm winter coats.
It’s their wool which is much prized as it’s remarkably soft yet strong.
‘It’s like cashmere, very soft and hypo allergenic,’ says Catherine.
There are 22 different shades of wool occurring naturally, from dark brown to fawn and white, although it can be dyed.
But it’s the animals delightful temperament which makes them so attractive and that’s why alpaca trekking is growing in popularity.
‘We are getting quite busy now that the weather is improving and have been booked out for the past few weekends,’ she says.
Long Acre alpacas are also available to hire for corporate events and weddings where they are guaranteed to turn heads.
For more information visit their Facebook page or phone 087 633 9039.
IT’S A VERY RELAXING EXPERIENCE AS ALPACAS ARE SUCH GENTLE ANIMALS. THEY ACTUALLY HUM WHEN THEY ARE HAPPY SO IT’S QUITE THERAPEUTIC BEING WITH THEM