Herdwick

Looks how to spot one

Thick, coarse, durable wool

Herdwicks have a double coat with a thick, coarse outer fleece and a softer undercoat. Lambs are born black and gradually lighten to a steel-grey or slate-grey as they age, with a white face and legs. The wool is traditionally used for carpets, rugs and insulation rather than fine textiles.4

Personality what they are like

Herdwicks are calm, docile and independent. They are friendly and often described as 'smiley' and 'teddy bearish'. They can be shy at first but with patience and time they become trusting and enjoyable to be around.56

Daily activity how busy a day looks

Herdwicks need large areas of open pasture or fell to roam. They are naturally active grazers and thrive when they can move freely across extensive grassland or upland terrain. They do not require fencing to stay in their heaf, but they do need space to exercise and forage.2

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

Herdwicks need shearing once a year, usually in late spring or early summer, to prevent overheating and to keep the fleece clean. Their hooves should be checked and trimmed regularly. They are hardy and need minimal shelter, but fresh water and mineral licks should be available, especially in winter.2

Home where they are happiest

Herdwicks are best suited to cold, wet and windy climates, such as the upland fells of the Lake District. They can live outdoors all year round and do not need a barn, but they do need access to shelter from extreme weather. They are not suitable for warm, humid environments.2

Food basics what goes in the bowl

Herdwicks can live entirely on grass and other forage, even on poor upland vegetation. They are excellent foragers and can survive on heather and coarse grasses. In harsh winters or when grazing is scarce, supplementary hay or mineral licks may be needed.2

Company who they like around

Herdwicks are social animals that do best in flocks. They are hefted, meaning they learn their grazing territory from their mothers and stay within it. They are not aggressive and can be kept with other sheep, but they need the company of their own kind. They are not suitable as a single pet.37

The story where it all began

The Herdwick is a breed of domestic sheep that originated in the Lake District of North West England. Its name comes from the Old Norse 'herdvyck', meaning sheep pasture. The breed is thought to have been introduced by Norse settlers over a thousand years ago. Herdwicks are known for their hardiness and their ability to thrive on the harsh, high-altitude fells. They are hefted, meaning they stay on their own piece of land without fencing. The Herdwick Sheep Breeders' Association was established in 1916 to preserve the breed. Beatrix Potter, the author of Peter Rabbit, helped save the breed by buying farms in the 1930s and leaving them to the National Trust with the condition that Herdwicks be kept.154

Recognised by the official bits

Herdwick Sheep Breeders' Association

Maintains the breed standard and purity of Herdwick sheep8