Kensington Prairie Farm

Kensington Prairie is two things at once: a working alpaca farm and a boutique full of the soft stuff alpacas are famous for. You can come for the animals, but plenty of people just come for the socks.

In the boutique

• Signature Cushion alpaca socks, the farm’s own design ($20 a pair when we checked)
• Alpaca yarn, including their 3-ply Charlotte in brown and dark fawn ($25 for 100 g)
• Scarves, shawls, blankets and throws
• Slippers and alpaca-fibre animal toys

There’s an online shop too if you already know your size.

From Surrey to 248 Street

Catherine Simpson and Jim Dales started in 2000 on five acres in Surrey’s old Kensington Prairie area, which is where the name comes from. They had 12 alpacas. The herd outgrew the place, and in 2006 the family moved to a 45-acre farm on 248 Street. These days they also raise cattle and run an animal rescue program, and a younger generation helps with the boutique and the animals. Money from group tours goes partly to Quechua Benefit, which supports alpaca-farming communities in Peru.

Before you go

Walk-in hours are Friday noon to 5, Saturday 10 to 4 and Sunday noon to 4, and the gates close half an hour before that. Parking is free: drive in from 248 Street and follow the one-way lane out to 250 Street. Dogs aren’t allowed. General admission doesn’t need booking, but alpaca walks, tours and meet-and-greets do.

It’s the first stop on our 248 Street and the Otter corridor drive. Bonetti Meats down the road is closed Sundays and Mondays, so Friday or Saturday gets you both.