Smithills Open Farm

If you’ve ever wondered what you call a baby alpaca, or which is the biggest and most ferocious owl in the world, Smithills Open Farm near Bolton is your place to find out.

This petting farm began life as a dairy farm – and the cows and milk production are still central to the family business today. You can watch a milking demonstration, help feed the calves, and see the milk being turned into ice cream in the pasteurising room.

The dairy herd is just the start though. Smithills is home to loads of beasts, large and small, including meerkats, reptiles, owls, emus, skunks and deer. Plus there’s all your ‘standard’ farm yard stock: chickens, sheep, ponies, pigs, geese and so on. You can hold some of the baby versions at Pets Corner and there’s meet and greets with the bigger animals throughout the day.

With tractor rides, donkey rides, a cafe and a play area, it’s a proper family day out. There’s also an ice creamery selling milkshakes, courtesy of those cows you met earlier. Stock up on fresh eggs and home-made cakes while you’re there. (You don’t need a ticket to visit the Smithills ice cream parlour.)