My Wild Alpaca Way Review: A Scenic Walk to Ireland's Northern Tip

When I was planning my trip to County Donegal in Ireland, I had the opportunity to book a tour where you get to walk with alpacas to see the northernmost tip of Ireland. So of course I said yes!

As both an animal lover and a lover of beautiful landscapes, Wild Alpaca Way was the perfect combination of things I love and an experience I know will stick with me for years to come. Getting to experience this more remote part of Ireland in such a unique way was my favorite experience I had in Donegal out of everything I got to do in this magical place.

So, if you’re curious about this tour, here’s a full overview of what you can expect, tips for your visit, and more on my review of the experience.

What is Wild Alpaca Way?

A curious brown alpaca with a shaggy, wet coat stares directly at the camera on a misty hillside, with two darker alpacas blurred in the background. Rolling green hills, a coastal view, and cloudy skies create a dramatic backdrop in Donegal, Ireland.

Wild Alpaca Way is an alpaca farm where you can learn about the lives of these alpacas and take them on a one-hour walk through the terrain of Malin Head, the northernmost point of Ireland.

It’s a family-run farm owned by John McGonagle and run by him and his sons. They established Wild Alpaca Way in 2019, and it was a way they could use the land while also keeping it in its beautiful natural state.

Where is Wild Alpaca Way?

A wide, elevated view of the rugged Donegal coastline features rolling green and brown moorland leading to the calm, gray Atlantic Ocean under a cloudy sky. A small rocky island is visible offshore, adding depth to the expansive seascape. — From Wild Alpaca Way you can see the northernmost point of Ireland

Wild Alpaca Way is located in Knockamany near Malin Head. You will need a car to get here. It’s about a little over an hour drive from Letterkenny (when I stayed) and just under an hour from Derry.

It’s also part of the Wild Atlantic Way, a popular drive down the west coast of Ireland. If you are starting in the South, this would be an amazing way to end your Wild Atlantic Way journey! Or you could begin here, and then continuing traveling on down the Wild Atlantic Way.

Tours Offered

Wild Alpaca Way offers daily walks at 11:00 am, 1:00 pm, and 3:00 pm. The experience takes about an hour, and includes a short walk around Malin Head plus time for photos (because you have to get those cute photos of you with the alpacas of course!).

Tours are offered at individual rates (approx. €23 per person), but they also offer discounts for families with kids as well as group rates.

I definitely recommend booking ahead of time, especially if you are traveling during peak season. When I asked John, the owner, how busy they stayed, he said that they had been turning people away during August!

What to Expect on Your Visit

A light tan alpaca with a curly fringe stands alert on a windswept hillside, facing sideways against a backdrop of green hills and a misty coastal view in Donegal, Ireland. The cloudy sky adds a soft, moody atmosphere to the scenic landscape.

When you first arrive you’ll be taken up to the alpaca pen and introduced to your alpaca companion for the experience. They are all difference colors, and were all boys when we visited. (They keep the females in another part of the farm.)

Mine was named Gino, and then I was handed his lead and off we went!

The walk really is pretty short, but the scenery of every single bit of it is absolutely stunning!

And we quickly understood why such a short walk takes almost an hour...because these animals were just a little bit stubborn. Sometimes they did not want to move at all and were definitely more interested in just standing there or grazing the nearby vegetation.

We also had a few alpaca bathroom breaks. I didn’t realize this, but alpacas are herd animals. So, when the alpha stops to go to the bathroom, all the other alpacas also want to stop to go to the bathroom. They are also related to camels and can hold A LOT of liquid. So the bathroom breaks could take a few minutes.

But the frequent breaks the alpacas wanted to take meant we had plenty of opportunity for photos. And the Wild Alpaca Way guides walked with us and helped us keep the alpacas moving when they stopped for too long.

Close-up of a brown alpaca with long, tousled bangs covering one eye, wearing a black halter against a blurred backdrop of green hills and the Atlantic Ocean in Donegal, Ireland. The alpaca’s textured fur and expressive face are sharply in focus, adding personality to the scenic setting.

There were also alpacas just roaming around too, which was really nice to get to see what they do on their own. Plus it gave us some other great opportunities for photos of them against the stunning coastal backdrop.

Towards the end of the walk, there is a short stop with a bathroom (for humans) and a small gift shop where they sell hats made from alpaca wool, spools of alpaca yarn, and some other goodies like little alpaca stuffed animals for the kiddos. So definitely bring your credit card or some money with you if you want to buy something!

From there, we finished our walk down the short hill and returned our alpacas to their pen and where on our way!

A sweeping view of the Donegal coastline shows a winding road through green hills leading to a wide, crescent-shaped sandy beach along a calm bay. Rolling farmland and distant mountains stretch across the horizon under a cloudy, overcast sky.

FAQs About Wild Alpaca Way

How difficult is the walk?

The walk isn’t particularly difficult, but there are some hilly sections and some tricky terrain. So wear shoes that are suitable for such. I would say the overall difficulty is easy.

What about the weather?

Ireland weather can be fickle, so definitely prepare for rain! We were grateful that is did not rain on us, but it did start raining shortly after we were done. So be prepared.

Also expect lots of wind! (I was really glad I had a hair tie in my bag!)

Can kids do the Wild Alpaca Way?

Kids are welcome at the Wild Alpaca Way! Kids under 14 can accompany adults that have alpacas, and kids 14 and older can walk with their own alpaca.

Wild Alpaca Way also has family deals for families of four (2 adults, 2 kids, and 2 alpacas for about €47) and families of five (2 adults, 3 kids, and 2 alpacas for about €52).

Final Thoughts on Wild Alpaca Way

A cheerful woman in a pale green rain jacket hugs a fluffy brown alpaca with a teal halter on a scenic hillside overlooking the Donegal coast. The alpaca appears to nuzzle her face as she smiles with her eyes closed, with rolling green fields, sandy beaches, and distant mountains in the background.

The Wild Alpaca Way was truly one of my favorite experiences in Ireland. The landscapes of being up high near Malin Head and overlooking the gorgeous green Irish countryside along with the ocean was a breathtaking experience.

And add to that the fun of walking with adorable alpacas, and you had the makings of a perfect experience as far as I’m concerned!

I know this is a review, and I’m probably supposed to bring up some kind of “other side” of the experience for you to be aware of. But aside from the possibility of rain (which no one can control) and the fact that this is a bit more of a remote experience, I really can’t think of anything *not* positive to say!

And even though this is a more out of the way thing to do, I think it is 100% worth the drive to see the northernmost part of Ireland this way, especially if you are driving the Wild Atlantic Way or just planning your trip to Donegal!

So book your Wild Alpaca Way tour and get ready for some fluffy and scenic fun!