Our Herdwicks

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.

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.

Group of sheep standing in a grassy field with mountains in the background
Five sheep with large curved horns standing on grass in a fenced farmyard.
A woman in a green coat herding sheep and a dog across a hilly landscape with mountains and a clear blue sky in the background.
A flock of sheep with mostly white and some black sheep standing near a wooden fence, with green foliage overhead and on the ground.
Herd of cows grazing on grassy hillside in a mountainous area under a partly cloudy blue sky.
A flock of sheep with black and white wool, some with red marks, in a wooden pen.
Green hillside with grazing sheep and cattle, dense trees, and a mountain in the background under a cloudy sky.

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.

A herd of sheep and a dog on a green hillside with a mountain in the background, near a small stream.
A group of sheep with sheep faces on their bodies standing near a fence on a farm, with rolling green fields, mountains, and a cloudy sky in the background.

There is a need to farm harmoniously alongside nature; a need for sustainable food; and a need to support the change makers…