Our Herdwicks
Here at Cragg House Farm, we are proud champions for pedigree native breeds of livestock. Native breeds have characteristics that are better suited to our challenging climate and make a positive contribution to the ecosystem they have evolved to thrive in. The Cragg House Farm Herdwick flock is made up of a landlords flock (owned by the National Trust) and a flock of our own that run together.
Herdwick sheep are the native breed of the central and western Lake District and live on the highest of England’s mountains. They are extremely hardy and are managed in the traditional way on the Lake District fells that have been their home for generations.
The word “Herdwyck”, meaning sheep pasture, is recorded in documents going back to the 12th century. Herdwick sheep are the most hardy of all Britain’s breeds of hill sheep, grazing the central and western dales of the Lake District with fells running to over 3000 feet.
Herdwick farms like ours typically rely on the common grazings of the high Lake District fells. The lambs graze with their mothers on the “heaf” belonging to Cragg House Farm instilling a life long knowledge of where on the fell they should be grazing.
The Herdwick’s hardiness and ability to graze over a wide area of fell is key to the maintenance of the Lake District landscape as we know it. By purchasing Herdwick products you are giving us, the farmers that manage this unique World Heritage Site, a sustainable future.
Meet the Flock
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Allegro
Three Year Old Tup
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Antonio
Three Year Old Tup
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Alonzo
Shearling Tup
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Angelo
Three Year Old Tup
Produce Available
Breeding Stock
In order to maintain our flock stocking rate and ensure we are breeding to the highest standard we aim to annually market a number of animals for sale for pedigree breeding.
Meat Products
Alongside the standard commercial production of lambs for the store/fat market we provide high welfare, locally produced and great tasting grass-fed meat box products from Herdwicks born and raised on a Lake District farm to ensure provenance and traceability.
Wool Products
Both raw fleeces and handmade Herdwick wool products are available. These include items such as cushions and rugs made by hand from our very own fleeces on a loom.
