Hebridean sheep

Of the 90 or so native British sheep breeds, we have chosen to keep Hebrideans. They are a hardy primitive sheep from the Northern short-tailed group and probably originated on the island of North Uist potentially as far back as the mid 1700s.

Our farm ranges up to over 1000 feet above sea level and in winter can see temperatures plummet and snow drifts many feet deep. The fields are steep and sit just below the moorland line, so have acidic and often wet ground. This makes it difficult to use machinery and there are large buffer zones at the top of slopes and beside the dry stone walls where it isn't possible to mow. As a result the grazing can get thick.

It was essential that we chose a breed that could cope with the conditions here and would graze even the rougher vegetation.