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Welcome to the Cragend Farm blog, where we try to keep you up to date with what is going on on the farm, the B&B, self-catering cottage and anything else we get up to.
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There are accommodation, historical and nature entries cataloguing what has happened in the past.
You can dip into a specific area of interest for example, farming, or Accommodation simply click on the title and open up the blog entry.

 

 

Cragend Farm is opening its gates for 3 one day visits to walk the new Tree Trail that has been created over the past 15 years. With a collection of  specimen trees planted by Lord Armstrong of Cragside and newer plantation and The Great Northumberland Forest additions, Cragend Farm is offering the opportunity to see parts of the Estate not usually open to the public, ...

New for 2026 This idyll is Cragend Farm, B&B and self catering cottage for you and your family right next door to Cragside National Trust property in Northumberland.  We have set up new ways to pay direct when you book make it easier for you to select your holiday with us at the click of a button. Any questions feel free to contact us via email or phone.   For summe ...

The National Curriculum   Looking to inspire the children ... Cragend Farm has a wide range of subject matter that will inspire and multiple ways to learn about many different subjects. The National Curriculum can be used in many ways at our Heritage Site for a range of learners, from Key Stage 1 through to A Levels and Post-Graduates:  Contact us to arrange a school trip ...

We feel Cragend Farm is vital to supporting the best of British as a visitor experience, especially as it in The North East of England, and because it offers a unique blend of heritage, sustainable rural tourism, and authentic local history, and  provides visitors with a rich and immersive insight into British innovation and country life. Cragend Farm provides a distinctive, h ...

Where to stay near Rothbury Northumberland?   Here of course, Cragend Farm offers self catering and B&B rooms right next to Cragside, with a log burner and plenty of countryside to enjoy. Winter walks in the sunshine with family and friends. ...

SHORT STAYS DURING THE WINTER MONTHS What a view whatever the weather, and a cosy log burner to come home to every night too. Book a short break either Friday to Monday or Monday to Friday and re-charge your batteries in beautiful Northumberland. We are right next door to Cragside and the Autumn colours are amazing, and the winter scenery amazing.  Press the book now but ...

Short Breaks and Half Term B&B We are looking forward to welcoming you as the sunrises and sunsets become more evocative of Autumn and the stars shine brighter. Booking online or use the contact page to email us. ...

When you come and stay with us for a B&B stay or a self catering break, you can be sure your day will be full of great adventures with Cragside National Trust right next door. As we are linked to Cragside by more than just history, it is great  to have us as your base.  With original Armstrong buildings and fittings, we are part of the Cragside story.  Booking via our ...

A new edition to our Rogues Gallery as we add Pancake, the Corgi from Scotland! He visited with his owners for a family Birthday Celebration during the August Bank Holiday and they all had a great time, with the children having space to play, BBQs, walks and lots of sight seeing in Northumberland.   Thank you to Pancake's owner Rosie for this great photo. ...

Heritage Open Days are here for a week from 12th September for people to visit us and see our heritage at Cragend Farm. For the next week we will be showing people around and showing why we are Cragside's little neighbour with a big story to tell.  The best way to tell you about the experience is with a review: "This was a splendid visit. Lou Rennwck was extreme ...

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 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.

Why seasoned wood?

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