You’ve heard of donkey rides, you’ve heard of alpaca walks. But we’ve just tried out what could be the next phenomenon - goat walks.

Since schools in Wiltshire have been enjoying their holidays this week, we thought we’d try out something a bit different.

Hope Nature Centre’s sold-out goat walks have been a massive hit in Trowbridge, with families flocking to lead them around the park.

I got down there just in time for the keepers to welcome the goats from the field, and I was surprised to see they were all keen to get out and about.

Each one accepted the leads without question, putting any dog who’s ever resisted their owner in a field firmly to shame. (I’ve spent more hours than I care to admit trying to round my dog up on her walk, so was safely impressed by what I was witnessing).

Wiltshire Times:

We waited a little away from the goats’ field for their walkers to arrive, and there was a flurry of excitement for the small children who were each set up with a goat to take around the park.

The visitors had travelled from different parts of Wiltshire to try it out - all of them there for the first time.

Initially, the first thing that stood out to me as everyone strode along, was how comfortable everyone looked with the unusual walking companions at their side.

I’ve been persuaded into attending an alpaca experience in the past, and I can still remember the squeals of people who feared every movement the long-necked creatures would make, but everyone here today was as cool as a cucumber.

But as the group of goats trotted along, park supervisor Rachel explained that they were huge people lovers, even if there were some interesting group dynamics amid the goats themselves.

Two of them, who have lived together for some time were kept separate and were led ahead of the other three, who had to stick together at the back. I don’t know the intricacies of goat psychology, of course, but I can confirm there were some interesting power dynamics going on, with the older ones firmly in charge.

At the end of the circuit, the walkers were invited to let the goats loose in the field, and they all gathered to snap a picture to mark the activity. It will definitely be an interesting one for show and tell, as the children head back to school next week.