Trekking with Llamas

 

Last year our Norfolk daughter and her husband enjoyed an unusual holiday in the Black Mountains of Herefordshire.  Old King Street Farm has good holiday cottages with the option of trekking with Llamas or just exploring the beautiful countryside.  If you don’t fancy the trekking I can vouch for the tranquillity one experiences from simply gazing at them grazing in the field.  We did that when we visited Cricket St Thomas last summer (see May 2012)’

 

At the bereavement group yesterday Veronica talked about colour therapy and how – when she was suffering from depression after the death of both parents in rapid succession, just staring at intense colours for long periods gave her solace.  She took us through an exercise imagining all shades of yellow.  Oddly having just come out from under a dark cloud my mind, was misbehaving and jaundice and liver damage came to mind.  I did enjoy the imagining tasting things lemony and later Joy and I had lunch at the Bistro, with a freshly baked lemon meringue pie which was delectable.  I do remember being transfixed by the beauty of fields of a heavenly blue (flax?) on the Isles of Greece.
 

Back to the llamas: below you will see photos D.V. of Jane and Malcolm with Belas Knap (Jane’s) and Tintagel (Malcolm’s).  The llamas were  just babies when they visited last year and are still young to be trekking but both J and M have years of experience with all kinds of animals and the owner asked them if they would escort the llamas on their solo – sans other llamas – outing.

All 15 members of the herd are name after archaeological sites.

Jane said:
I forgot to mention that baby llamas are called crias and that there were 2 more - just a few weeks
 old - very cute:)

Llamas are very stately and tend to look superior- ly at you.
Contrary to popular belief , well trained ones don't spit (well only the girls and only at each
 other.)
They have different characters and find their place in the herd accordingly.
Once weaned the young ones choose a mentor from among the older llamas from whom they learn.
Belas Knap has chosen Brodgar, the llama I trekked with last year.  He has won various rosettes at county shows but I don't expect Belas Knap knows that!
We will definitely be going back...
Once Malcolm loads his photos I will send you pictures of the new crias.

 

www.oldkingstreetfarm.co.uk

 

I believe one of the llamas has a blogJ

Photos below