Episode #144 — Matt Yorke from the Pembrokeshire Llamas

Summer is just on the horizon, and our thoughts naturally turn to dream vacations. Of course, this year even our dream vacations are tempered by the realities of the pandemic. (Will there be enough soap available at our destinations? Will there be enough distance between us and the other tourists? Is our Groupon from two years ago still valid?) If your thoughts have been invaded by all the “what ifs” of 2020-2021 and your imagination is hampered, we’re here for you with some great vacation ideas. And if you aren’t quite ready for the world — or the word isn’t quite ready for you — at least these ideas are fun to think about for the future.

Nude beaches, giant wooden beagles, miniature golf extravaganzas — you’ve heard about all sorts of great things to try on your trip. But this week we spoke with someone who has us more excited about Wales than Tom Jones and Shirley Bassey, combined. (And they both did James Bond theme songs, so that’s saying something!) Matt Yorke is the owner of Pembrokeshire Llamas, a farm in Wales that offers llama activities for people of all ages. “Llamas in Wales?!” you may exclaim. We exclaimed that, too, and Matt was more than happy to tell us why it makes perfect sense.

Matt filled us in on why he started Pembrokeshire Llamas at this stage in his life. He also shared what it took to get it up and running. As for why he went with llamas, there are a variety of reasons, all of which made us ready to go and hang out with them. One of the main llama attractions at the farm is to do a llama trek, where you walk your own llama through the beautiful hills, valleys, and country lanes of Pembrokeshire, Wales. The llamas aren’t for riding, they serve as relaxing, entertaining companions. A stroll in the Welsh countryside, a sassy llama, an excellent guide — we’re not really sure what else you need.

But llamas aren’t without controversy and it’s time to address the llama in the room — the terrible rumor about them and spitting. Matt cleared up any misconceptions about llamas coming up to people and just spitting on them. Rest assured that Pembrokeshire llamas know the difference between other llamas and humans and how to behave with each.

If walkies with llamas isn’t your thing (but how couldn’t it be?), you can stay at the farm, learn more about the llama sanctuary, host a party, or visit with the other animals. Matt’s llamas also made quite a splash in the news when they were used to deliver items from the shops to neighbors in the valley during the pandemic lockdown in Wales. We’re more than a little jealous that adorable llamas didn’t deliver groceries to us last spring. In fact, even when the pandemic is over we’d love to have llamas deliver things to us. If Luke’s next Edible Arrangements deliver isn’t brought to his doorstep by a trekking camelid, it just won’t feel like a celebratory moment.

If you would like to learn more about Matt, his llamas, and his farm, visit the Pembrokeshire Llamas website. You can also find the llamas on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. We’re off to try and think of more names for Matt’s llamas. We’re also off to try and think of more ways to stump Rachel’s blogging attempts. (Keep trying, Luke and Heidi — I can six-degrees-of-Kevin-Bacon the hell out of any topic…)