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Meet the Herdwick Sheep

Meet the friendliest flock of Herdwick sheep and learn about this ancient breed

Meet the famous Herdwick Sheep of the Lake District

Drive through the majestic lakes, tarns and wooded hills to an isolated farm tucked away in the valley. It is an old farm with a great wooden barn.

There are over one hundred breeds of sheep in the United Kingdom. None provoke as much affection as the Herdwicks. Maybe it is because they change colour from black to dark brown to a wonderful silvery grey. Or perhaps it is because they are so tough and can withstand the pelting rain on the mountains, snow and brutal wind. We admire their resilience.

You cannot escape the fact that they are so attractive and cute. Coming to the Lake District and getting up close with the Herdwicks completes a trip. They are all part of the regional story.

They have been here for 6000 years

The Herdwicks are not just interesting-looking sheep, they have ancestors reaching back to the very first known domestic breeds approximately ten thousand years ago. We are unsure when they first arrived in Britain, but it could have been nearly 6000 years ago. The breed remained in the fells and dales of Cumbria (the Lake District) and never mingled with other varieties. Therefore, they maintain their primitive characteristics.

Beatrix Potter, the famous children's book writer, was instrumental in saving the breed from extinction. She became recognised as an expert breeder and bought land to support her growing flocks of Herdwicks.

The experience involves a talk about the flock and the breed and a stroll up onto the fields to feed and meet individuals with distinct personalities. The flock enjoys human contact and a good scratch.

They are so cute and all will have sheep selfies. This experience is wonderful for children and adults. It is worth knowing that the traditional Herdwick sheep farming is part of what makes the Lake District National Park a UNESCO World Heritage Site.