Availability in June We have a few spaces due to cancellations in June to fill. its Rhododendron time in Cragside and the whole Coquet Valley is looking fantastic as the green of summer comes through. Contact us direct for a booking in our hoiday accommodation East Cottage. 7 day breaks Fridy-Friday ...
Silage Clamps and Middens
As farmers look for cheaper ways to feed their animals as the cost of fodder and energy prices rise, we look to our listed building for inspiration as Lord Armstrong of Cragside had this idea in 1884 building two bays for silage with an industrial tower between them housing the most uptodate hydraulics to lift and press the silage. If you are interested in viewing our facilit ...
Coronation Celebrations
On Saturday 6th May 2023 we celebrate the Coronation of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla. We wish them a super day and Look forward to a long reign. We will be open and hope the guests and visitors will enjoy the day with us. ...
Tours start
Invitation to View tours started in May and are available to book through our website or through historic Houses. New evidence found at The Tyne & Wear archives is being verified with Historic England about the revised date of 1884 for the building. This can be viewed with other items of research during the tour. This is a review from our most recent one, with our than ...
We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to your fantastic farm on the Historic Houses tour on Tuesday. We both agree that it was the most interesting HHA visit we have ever done - and we have done many over the years! We had no idea of the extent of the Armstrong connection or what you have there, having visited Cragside on so many occasions in the past 50 years or so. And indeed looked down on the farm from the walks at Cragend quite recently. We particularly enjoyed ascending and descending the ladders to look at the hydraulic equipment and get an idea of how it all functioned, the beautiful and unusual buildings which had housed the cattle, and were intrigued by the contents of your "underground " loo! Peacocks and chicks, hens and a beautiful pet lamb added to the feel of the farm.
Shaun & Lou Renwick are keen to harness the farm's natural resources, using wood to heat their water, to cook with on a wood burning range, and to heat the houses on the Farm. Even if your house is not equipped to totally run on wood there are things you can do to make sure you are using the best quality wood for your fires.
Why seasoned wood?
Why use Seasoned Wood?
Seasoned wood is a definition for 'wood drying'. About 5% of the energy of the log is wasted through evaporation and heating the water vapour of damp logs.
Moisture effects the burning process with unburnt hydrocarbons going up the chimney, which can in time create 'sooting' in the chimney, with the possibility of a chimney fire, all of which requires specialist sweeping.
Drying the wood before burning reduces moisture content in the wood before it is used for burning,
Air drying is the most traditional method, and it takes time. usually over and above 2 years! The fire will use less energy to burn the log if the water content is below 20%. Therefore is can give OUT more energy in the form of heat!
Cragend Farm endeavours to provide their customers with the best seasoned wood possible.
if you would like further information on the process of burning wood please contact us and we will be happy to help.
Thank you so much Lou and Shaun for a great holiday break on your farm at Cragend last week. East Cottage was a super place to stay. Very comfortable accommodation with everything we needed for self-catering and situated next to the beautiful Cragside National Trust gardens. It was super for our dog with fields to walk across as well as a secure fenced place for her to run off lead! Such interesting history too about the farm and how you have restored the buildings, the Victorian silo and so much else of the past farming life at Cragend. We look forward to returning! J&M Nottingham.
Award Winning Accommodation